Collective agreement for retail workers: Employers leave the negotiating table without a fair offer
The pre-Christmas business is booming – but for 150,000 employees, there will be less in real terms.
KV negotiation
The third round of collective bargaining negotiations for the approximately 150,000 retail workers has again been without result today. The employer's offer is still well below the union's demand of 3.5 percent – and thus below the level that would be necessary to secure real incomes. While the tills in retail are ringing in Advent, those who store, pick and transport goods are to be sent into the new year with a de facto wage cut.
No wage cuts for system maintainers
For employees, whose incomes are already at the lower end, a deal below inflation would be a bitter cut. vida negotiator Christine Heitzinger finds clear words:
"We cannot accept an agreement that makes our employees poorer in real terms."vida-Verhandlungsleiterin
She reminds us that colleagues in the retail warehouses play key roles in supply: without their work, there would be neither full shelves nor festive Christmas menus.
Heitzinger also criticizes the fact that retail workers are often granted lower incomes compared to commercial employees: The collective bargaining wages of workers are on average 1,000 euros lower.
"Anyone who seriously offers wage increases below inflation completely ignores the reality of people's work."vida-Verhandlungsleiterin
Pre-Christmas jubilation – but no money for the employees
While retail companies report strong Advent sales and rising profits, they show no willingness to improve in key areas.
There was zero movement in the case of night work bonuses, exposure to cold, dust or high work speeds. The same applies to necessary adjustments to the framework law.
Heitzinger is irritated by the contradictory communication of the employers' side:
"When it comes to fair wages, all room for manoeuvre is suddenly gone."vida-Verhandlungsleiterin
Earlier wage waiver must now be compensated
Actually, the last deal was planned for two years – but high inflation made a renegotiation necessary. For 2025, there was only a 3.3 percent wage increase, with rolling inflation of 3.8 percent. This concession of the employees must now be taken into account.
The trade union vida will inform its colleagues about the status of negotiations in further works meetings and remains ready for talks – but not at the price of falling real wages.
Heitzinger's conclusion leaves little room for interpretation:
"The retail workers deserve more than empty words - they deserve real appreciation and an income that enables a good life."
