Following a fruitless initial round of wage negotiations for approximately 10,000 employees of TÜV Süd AG last Friday, the service sector union Verdi is planning to expand strike action within the industry. The union announced on Monday that industrial action measures are planned to begin on Tuesday.
Verdi had previously initiated warning strikes at TÜV BUND as part of parallel wage negotiations, also scheduled for Tuesday. The union is seeking an eight percent increase or a minimum of €300 per month for TÜV Süd employees, with a contract duration of twelve months.
The employers’ current proposal includes a six-month grace period, a one-off payment of €500, a two percent wage increase effective January 1, 2026 and a further two percent increase effective April 1, 2027, over a 36-month contract period.
“The employers’ offer is completely unacceptable” stated Verdi negotiator Manuela Dietz. She highlighted the TÜV Süd group’s substantial 38 percent increase in revenue over the past five years, attributing this growth to the efforts of its employees, who are now reportedly being presented with a minimal offer.
Initial actions are planned for Tuesday in cities including Essen, Hannover and Nürnberg.