Germany: new postal services’ union (GNBZ) can’t bargain for collective agreements, Federal Labor Court says

Victory for Verdi. This decree puts an end to a long legal procedure Ver.di started after the creating, in 2007, of a rival union, the new postal services’ union (GNBZ). According to Ver.di, GNBZ was a “pseudo-union” created at the instigation of two large businesses, PIN AG and the Germany subsidiary of Holland’s TNT, only to allow for the negotiation of minimum wage below that negotiated between Ver.di and the Post’s employers’ federation, dominated by the Deutsche Post AG. On October 30, 2008, the Labor Court of Cologne gave satisfaction to Ver.di, acknowledging that the GNBZ lacked representativeness and independence from the NBZ and BdKEP employers’ organizations (see our dispatch No. 080847). Consequently, the collective agreement introducing minimum wage amounting to €6 in new Lander and €7.5 in former Lander, negotiated by the GNBZ and the NBZ and BdKEP employers’ organizations, was obsolete. This ruling was then confirmed by another decree, pronounced in the second instance court, in May 2009, by the Regional Labor Court of Cologne. It is now permanent.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

the Post’s employers’ federation, dominated by the Deutsche Post AG. On October 30, 2008, the Labor Court of Cologne gave satisfaction to Ver.di, acknowledging that the GNBZ lacked representativeness and independence from the NBZ and BdKEP employers’ organizations (see our dispatch No. 080847). Consequently, the collective agreement introducing minimum wage amounting to €6 in new Lander and €7.5 in former Lander, negotiated by the GNBZ and the NBZ and BdKEP employers’ organizations, was obsole

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Netherlands: Uber fined over 800 million euros for automated algorithmic decisions
The news. In a decision dated 17 August, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined ride-hailing company Uber €825 million for automating decisions regarding driver account deactivations. The...
Portugal: open consultation on the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive
The news. On 5 August 2026, the Portuguese government published a document proposing a draft text to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive as the basis for a public consultation open until...
EU: the Commission will set up an Expert Group on the impact of AI in the world of work
The news. On 22 July 2026, the European Commission published a progress report on the EU-27’s achievements regarding the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, reinforced by the...
Belgium: toward an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child
The news. On 18 July, the Belgian federal government approved a draft bill introducing an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child. This entitlement would be added to existing...