Strike arm: Massive warning strikes at Deutsche Post in Rhineland-Palatinate!

Strike arm: Massive warning strikes at Deutsche Post in Rhineland-Palatinate!

On February 5, 2025, the United Service Union (ver.di) intensified the pressure in the tariff conflict with Deutsche Post AG. In Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, warning strikes have been announced in various areas of the letter and parcel positions that will include numerous employees from various operating facilities.

The affected regions in Rhineland-Palatinate include places such as Niederzissen, Dierdorf, Andernach, Kaiserslautern and many more. The decision on the warning strikes follows the less productive second round of negotiations, which took place on January 23 and 24, 2025. Ver.di describes the results inadequate because the employers have classified the claims as not affordable.

demands of ver.di

The union ver.di calls for a linear tariff increase of seven percent over a term of twelve months. In addition, collective bargaining and trainees should receive three additional vacation days, and ver.di members should get another vacation day. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for February 12 and 13, 2025, and ver.di hopes to advance the talks.

As early as January 28, 2025, the first warning strikes were carried out in several large and larger cities, since hardly any progress was made in the second round of negotiations. These strikes also affected the delivery of letters and packages and underline the urgency of the demands of the employees.

legal framework of the strikes

The right to strike is anchored in Article 9 paragraph 3 of the Basic Law and provides for unions to put pressure on employers through collective measures. Strikes are considered a central means in industrial action to represent the interests of employees. It is important to note that strikes are subject to certain legal requirements and enjoy constitutional protection if they meet the conditions of collective refusal to work.

In Germany there is no specific law to regulate strikes; Instead, the guidelines are based on decisions by the Federal Labor Court. The legally binding design of strike right is shaped by judge law, which has been developed over the years. The respect of the principles of necessity and proportionality is essential in order not to endanger the social order.

Overall, the developments in the collective bargaining conflict with Deutsche Post AG show how important trade union organization and the right to strike are for the enforcement of employee interests. The upcoming negotiations could be crucial for the further steps of the tariff design in the industry.