As of: March 8, 2024, 6:14 a.m
By: Max Schäfer
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The retail companies Lidl, Rewe, Aldi and Ikea are increasing salaries.
Verdi accuses them of wanting to break the “will to strike” in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute.
Munich – Retail workers have been demanding more money for months.
However, nothing is happening in the negotiations between the Verdi union and the employers.
The result is warning strikes in shops.
Now some companies are independently increasing salaries and wages.
They announced this on Wednesday, March 6th.
These include the Schwarz Group, which includes Lidl and Kaufland, the Rewe Group, Aldi and Ikea.
The retail companies had already paid five percent more money in October 2023.
Now the next step follows.
Compared to the current tariff, this means up to ten percent more salary for employees.
The companies are thus implementing a recommendation from the German Trade Association (HDE), according to which they should increase tariffs by ten percent before the conclusion of official negotiations with the union and then offset them.
Rewe, Lidl and Aldi increase salaries: Verdi accuses companies of wanting to break “the will to strike”.
“After eleven months of collective bargaining conflict with more than 60 rounds of negotiations nationwide, we have come to the conclusion that Verdi unfortunately has no interest in a timely conclusion in the retail sector,” said HDE collective bargaining manager Steven Haarke.
Companies bound by collective agreements are not allowed to increase wages and salaries without HDE approval.
The Rewe Group is becoming the focus of Verdi in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute.
(Archive photo) © Jörg Carstensen/dpa
Verdi criticized the companies for the step.
The trade association is trying to “break the will to strike by announcing voluntary wage increases,” said Verdi federal board member Silke Zimmer.
The “order of the hour” is a return to the negotiating table and a “tariff agreement that takes price increases into account”.
Legally binding wage increases could only be achieved in a collective agreement.
Collective bargaining in the retail sector has made little progress for months.
Since then there have been several warning strikes that have had no effect.
Verdi is demanding, among other things, at least 2.50 euros more per hour and a term of one year.
Depending on the region, there are further requirements.
Verdi is calling on Rewe employees to take strike action in the collective bargaining dispute in the retail sector
Verdi has called for further action.
This week, the union is calling on Rewe Group employees to take actions in front of branches and warehouses.
The highlight will be central strike rallies on the occasion of International Women's Day on Friday, March 8th.
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As the second largest food retailer, Rewe is strongly represented in the collective bargaining committees.
“Instead of using their influence there and bringing collective bargaining to a conclusion, they are one of the companies that have set a collective bargaining dictate instead of negotiations,” criticizes Silke Zimmer, who is responsible for trade at Verdi.
(ms/dpa)