German employees of the inland waterway shipping industry are set to receive a pay increase, as the service union Verdi and the Federal Association of the German Inland Waterway Shipping (BDB) have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The deal, which will be in effect for 24 months, provides for a 5.4% pay rise in two stages, starting with a 3.2% increase on September 1, 2025 and a further 2.2% increase on September 1, 2026.
According to Verdi’s chief negotiator, André Scheer, the agreement ensures a real wage increase for the industry’s employees and brings their salaries in line with those of competitors in Luxembourg. Scheer also noted that the last pay rise in the German inland waterway shipping industry took place just four months ago, on February 1, 2025, with a 4.2% increase. This means that the total pay increase for the year will be 7.4%, a significant signal of reliability to the employees who, despite complex economic conditions, continue to make a crucial contribution to the maintenance of supply chains and trade routes.
The new collective bargaining agreement will come into effect on September 1, 2025 and will be first open to termination on September 1, 2027.