Verdi Strikes Hit H&M, Ikea, and Major German Retailers as Wage Talks Reach Impasse
05.06.2026 - 03:07:40 | boerse-global.de
Thousands of retail workers across Germany walked off the job on Thursday and Friday, with rallies planned in Kiel, Berlin, Erfurt, Bochum, and Saarbrücken. The union Verdi has called for "massive warning strikes" targeting chains including H&M, Ikea, Kaufland, and Primark. Organizers expect around 300 participants in Saarbrücken alone. On Saturday the protest wave rolls into Bavaria, with a rally at Ingolstadt's Franziskanerplatz that is likely to disrupt H&M, Zara, and several supermarket chains.
The walkouts come as the Swedish fashion giant H&M faces a second front of pressure. Investment bank RBC cut its price target for H&M shares from 185 to 175 Swedish kronor on June 4, maintaining a "Sector Perform" rating. Analysts warn that H&M is losing market share to competitors such as Inditex (Zara), Next, and Uniqlo, and that the company's operational performance is causing concern.
On the wage front, the gap between union demands and employer offers remains enormous. Verdi is asking for a 7 percent pay increase, but at least €225 more per month, with a contract duration of twelve months. Apprentices would receive an additional €150 monthly. In Berlin and Brandenburg, the union is also pushing for a sector-specific minimum wage of €14.90 per hour.
Employers have so far offered far less. In retail, they propose a 2 percent raise starting November 2026, followed by 1.5 percent in August 2027 — over a 24-month contract. In the wholesale sector, the offer is 3.4 percent over the same two-year period. Verdi board member Silke Zimmer described the proposals as "inadequate." The German Retail Federation (HDE) insists that room for concessions is extremely limited, even though the entire trade sector generated €2.17 trillion in revenue and €82.9 billion in profit in 2025.
Regional negotiations are stalled in multiple states. The first round in Berlin and Brandenburg ended without result on June 1. The peace obligation has already expired in Berlin, meaning immediate strikes are possible, while in Brandenburg it remains in force until June 30. Around 65 percent of retail employees in Brandenburg work part-time.
Further bargaining sessions are scheduled throughout June: June 8 for retail in Baden-Württemberg, June 12 for wholesale in Lower Saxony and Bremen, June 16 for retail in Bavaria, June 17 for the second round in Saarland, June 23 for Berlin and Brandenburg, and June 25 for wholesale in Bavaria.
The current dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running conflict. In the 2023–2025 bargaining round, Verdi secured a cumulative wage increase of 14 percent. The union has signaled it will expand protests if needed, even as the HDE says customers are unlikely to face major disruptions. With roughly 5.2 million people working in German trade — 3.4 million of them in retail — the stakes for both sides are high.
