The German trade union “verdi” has started a nationwide strike in the retail and wholesale sectors in Germany, with the IKEA and Metro AG chains among the affected companies, DPA reported.
A union representative expressed satisfaction with the participation of employees in the protest, but did not specify their number.
The German Retail Association (HDE) was unfazed by the strike action, which is part of a long-running wage dispute.
Employers are well prepared for strikes, said Steffen Harke, managing director of the association, adding that no noticeable consequences for customers are expected.
Collective bargaining, covering around 5 million workers in the retail sector, has made little progress in recent months, marked by numerous strikes and negotiations that have failed to resolve the situation.
The union is demanding an increase in hourly wages of at least 2.50 euros for employees in Germany and a one-year wage agreement, and has additional demands in individual provinces.
Employers recently proposed a rise of a total of 10.24 percent over a two-year period, as well as an inflation compensation bonus of €750, alongside a collectively agreed minimum wage.
At the beginning of March, some retail companies, including IKEA, announced that they would increase the salaries of their employees. So they followed the association’s recommendation of voluntary increases.
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