Deutsche Post AG employees represented by the service union Verdi are currently engaged in significant strike actions across multiple German cities, highlighting the growing tension between labor demands and management responses. After months of stalled negotiations, Labor Day for workers came on January 28, 2025, as the union mobilized approximately 2,000 employees to take part in strikes impacting postal delivery services, including major hubs like Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, and Würzburg.
The central demand from Verdi is for a substantial wage increase of 7% for around 170,000 tarif workers and trainees. Union representatives argue this increase is necessary to help workers cope with soaring living costs. Verdi's vice-chairwoman Andrea Kocsis asserted, "Only through significant wage increases for the employees can the still high costs of living be managed." The union also calls for three additional vacation days for all employees, with members receiving one extra day specific to union activities.
The backdrop for the strikes includes the current state of negotiations, which have reportedly yielded little but frustration. After the second round of talks, Deutsche Post AG declined to present any new proposals and labeled the union's demands as infeasible, citing decreasing mail volumes which strain financial capacity. Kocsis labeled this viewpoint as "unacceptable," stating it neglects the real challenges workers currently face amid high inflation.
Recent warning strikes are just the latest moves in what could be expected to be prolonged labor unrest. Verdi has made it clear—pressure will remain high, with more actions planned as discussions progress. Tanja Lauer, the Verdi regional manager, emphasized, "Our members will respond with warning strikes across the business. The message is clear: we mean business and are ready to fight for our demands." This presents challenges not only for the postal services but also for the countless customers awaiting mail and parcel deliveries during these actions.
Customers have been advised to anticipate disruption as Verdi workers halt their delivery operations. The union has strategically chosen its timings, conscious of upcoming electoral events to minimize interference with voting. The combination of low delivery personnel owing to the strikes and the union’s calls to gather public support only amplifies the urgency of the matter.
These latest demands are set against the backdrop of contrasting financial realities within Deutsche Post AG itself, where executive salaries have come under fire from union activists. Top executives are reported to earn salaries between €860,000 and €1.3 million, which fuels resentment among lower-tier employees whose wages remain below the median income of around €46,000 per year. This disparity raises questions about fairness and the prioritization of company profits over workers’ well-being.
Verdi has consistently stood firm on the argument for fair compensation, pointing out the deterioration of employees' earnings relative to inflation. The union's activism has been met with mixed results, and the experience from the previous round of negotiations looms large. Many union members express skepticism about the outcomes, recalling how Verdi had initially pushed for less favorable deals, which they feel led to the cementing of poverty wages.
Despite the challenges faced, the resolve among Deutsche Post workers remains strong as they prepare for another transformation of their labor situation. Fresh rounds of negotiations are scheduled for mid-February, and Verdi indicates continued advocacy will be on the agenda. The outcome remains uncertain, but the strikes signal deep-rooted issues facing delivery personnel, adding pressure on management to reconsider its stance.
Overall, the actions taken by Deutsche Post AG employees and the responses elicited from both sides reflect broader labor struggles amid economic disparities and changing industry dynamics. Deutsche Post and Verdi find themselves at a pivotal moment, one where the decisions made could reshape the labor relations for their vast workforce.