The German Postal Service’s labor conflict has escalated, with the services union Verdi calling for further strikes. On Friday and Saturday, employees in the mail, package and bundling delivery services are expected to go on strike at selected locations and service branches across the country, according to a statement by the union on Friday.
“The offer presented by the employers in the third round of negotiations is completely inadequate” said Andrea Kocsis, Verdi’s deputy chair and chief negotiator. “It would mean significant real wage losses for Deutsche Post employees if accepted. With the expanded warning strikes this week, the colleagues in the companies are showing that they expect much more from their employer. We expect a better offer in the fourth round of negotiations next week, one that is conducive to agreement.”
The employers had presented an offer on February 14, valid until March 31, 2027, which includes pay increases of 1.8 percent from July 1, 2025 and an additional 2.0 percent from October 1, 2026, as well as adjustments to the holiday regulations, with only a few employees gaining an extra day off, according to the union. Verdi demands a 7 percent pay increase for the approximately 170,000 tariff employees, apprentices and dual students, with a 12-month contract duration. The union also demands three additional days of holiday for tariff employees and apprentices, as well as an extra holiday day for Verdi members. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 3 and 4.
Verdi had already called for warning strikes at the package centers on Tuesday night, followed by a call for strikes at the delivery and service branches on Thursday.