Germany: Verdi calls for 6.5% increase for the 2.9 million commerce employees

The social partners in Hessen opened, in early march, collective negotiations in retail trade.  Mid-march, they were followed by the social partners in Bade-Württemberg.  Their colleagues in Bavaria and North-Rhine will start bargaining in April, and so on until June.  Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg will bring up the rear.  These successive waves come from the fact that the social partners in retail trade haven’t organized sectoral bargaining in years.  “We negotiate in every region.  In theory, there is no pilot region even though it is obvious that the first agreements signed influence the following” explained Ulrike Hörchens, spokesman for the German Federation of Commerce (HDE).
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

ine will start bargaining in April, and so on until June. Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg will bring up the rear. These successive waves come from the fact that the social partners in retail trade haven’t organized sectoral bargaining in years. “We negotiate in every region. In theory, there is no pilot region even though it is obvious that the first agreements signed influence the following” explained Ulrike Hörchens, spokesman for the German Federation of Commerce (HDE).

6.5% claim. I

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
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...
Germany: a national action plan to strengthen collective bargaining
The news. On 22 July, the German federal government unveiled a national action plan to promote collective bargaining in response to the requirements of the EU minimum wage directive. The directive...