German Retail Workers Stage Escalating Strikes as Employers Offer Delayed Raises
25.06.2026 - 01:41:16 | boerse-global.de
A wave of walkouts that has already been rolling since mid-May is intensifying, with the Verdi union calling for mass strikes at Kaufland stores across North Rhine-Westphalia. More than 140 of the discounter’s outlets in the state are expected to see employees walk off the job today, part of a nationwide effort that targets over 100 Kaufland locations. The company operates roughly 790 stores in Germany and employs around 92,000 people.
Despite the coordinated stoppages, Kaufland plans to keep its doors open. A company spokesperson said that supply chains remain stable and customers will not face shortages. Meanwhile, Hamburg is bracing for two days of strikes not only at Kaufland but also at competitors Netto, Rewe, Penny, and Famila.
The underlying dispute involves roughly 5.2 million workers across Germany’s retail sector. Verdi is demanding a 7% wage increase over a twelve-month contract period, with a guaranteed minimum rise of €225 per month. Trainees would receive an additional €150 per month. Employers, by contrast, have proposed a 24-month deal that would deliver a 2% pay bump starting November 2026 and a further 1.5% in August 2027.
Union representatives have rejected the offer as inadequate, pointing to the financial strength of the Schwarz Group, Kaufland’s parent company. The previous round of bargaining resulted in a 14% increase for retail employees.
The pressure is set to mount further ahead of upcoming negotiation sessions. Tomorrow, talks are scheduled in Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Negotiators for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein will sit down on July 9, 2026.
