Collective bargaining negotiations for retail workers
For workers in the retail sector, the trade union vida reached a collective agreement. Over two years, both wages and allowances will rise.
KV negotiation
The collective agreement negotiations for retail workers were concluded on 12 December 2024 after only two rounds of negotiations. As a representative of the employees, we were thus able to push through important improvements in wages and allowances, which bring tangible relief to employees.
Wage increase brings about a thousand euros more
The wage increase for 2025 is +3.3 percent. Depending on the group, this will bring employees 67 euros to 79 euros more per month. Extrapolated to the entire year, this is an additional 938 euros to 1,106 euros in the wallet.
For 2026, we have agreed on a dynamic regulation with the employers. Wages will rise by inflation plus 0.6 percent, with inflation in autumn 2025 serving as the basis. If inflation is above 2.3 percent, it will be renegotiated.
Increases in allowances
In addition to wages, the vida negotiators were also able to significantly increase bonuses - by an average of 4.5 percent. The salaries will increase from 19.30 to 20.30 euros per trip. The cold allowance will be increased from 137.50 to 143 euros per month. The night allowance will be raised from 2.20 to 2.30 euros per hour.
With this agreement, we are strengthening the purchasing power of our employees and ensuring sustainable income development.
Update: November 25, 2024
Last Monday, November 25, the collective bargaining negotiations started for the 150,000 retail workers who work in warehouses in the food trade, for example. After the fourth round of negotiations in the area of retail employees ended without result last week, the first conclusion among the workers is largely positive.
Maintain purchasing power!
According to Kathrin Schranz, negotiator for the trade union vida, the first meeting was characterized by a pleasant atmosphere of discussion. The employers' first offer is 3.1 percent. From the union's point of view, more should be possible for the employees: "We demand at least compensation for inflation. This means that the rolling inflation rate of 3.8 percent must be compensated," Schranz said.
Systemically important professions
According to the vida trade unionist, there was also a willingness to talk about framework legal conditions, where the employer side took the first steps towards an improvement for the employees. "The occupational groups affected are systemically relevant, but all too often invisible. They pick, transport and sort food to cover the daily needs of all of us," explains KV negotiator Schranz. "This makes it all the more important to create good working conditions for these employees."
The next date of the collective bargaining negotiations for retail workers is scheduled for December 12. The collective agreement is to apply from 1 January 2025.
