The collective bargaining negotiations in the southwest retail sector have again been postponed without result. There was also no agreement in the fifth round of collective bargaining, the Baden-Württemberg trade association and the Verdi union announced on Friday in Stuttgart. Despite the difficult situation for the retail sector, employees were approached with new offers, the employers’ association said. “We very much regret that our efforts did not lead to success. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that retail companies are not financially overwhelmed, even in difficult times,” said Sabine Hagmann, general manager of the retail association.
On Friday, the employer side offered a wage increase of a total of 10 percent over a period of two years as well as inflation compensation of 500 euros in the first year and 250 euros in the second year. Verdi rejected that. “This new, improved offer does not yet provide employees with any security against real wage losses,” said negotiator Wolfgang Krüger.
Verdi is calling for a 15 percent increase in wages for retail employees and 200 euros more training allowances per month. The union had repeatedly criticized, among other things, the employees at Kaufland, H
