Postbank Workers Edge Closer to Indefinite Strike After Talks Deliver Zero Employer Proposals
17.06.2026 - 10:55:27 | boerse-global.de
Deutsche Bank has failed to put a single offer on the table after three rounds of collective bargaining for roughly 9,000 Postbank employees, prompting Verdi to declare the negotiations deadlocked and launch a strike ballot. The union’s move marks a sharp escalation in a conflict that has so far produced no movement from the employer side.
The balloting period runs from June 17 to July 3, 2026. Only Verdi members among the workforce are eligible to vote, and a “yes” to indefinite industrial action requires approval from at least 75 percent of those entitled to cast a ballot. Preparations for walkouts are already underway. Should the threshold be met, the union intends to significantly increase pressure on the lender.
At the heart of the dispute is an 8 percent pay rise demand, with a social floor of 300 euros per month to ensure lower-paid staff benefit proportionally. For trainees, Verdi is seeking an additional 200 euros per month on top of current remuneration. Beyond wages, the union is pressing for binding commitments on employment security and site guarantees. A further major point is the right to training and further education, particularly as the group begins integrating artificial intelligence into its operations — a development the employee representatives say requires urgent safeguards.
Despite the breakdown in talks, channels remain open. A fourth negotiation round is scheduled for June 30, 2026 in Berlin. According to union sources, whether that meeting shifts the dynamic depends entirely on the employer side producing a negotiable proposal. The ongoing strike vote functions as a backstop in case the Berlin session also fails to yield progress.
