Verdi Union Launches Retail Strikes Across Germany, Targeting Kaufland and Other Supermarkets

The German trade union Verdi has called two days of warning strikes on 25‑26 June 2026 in the retail sector. Employees of major supermarket chains including Kaufland, Rewe, Penny, Netto and Lidl, as well as retailers such as H&M, Ikea, Primark and Lidl, are urged to stop work to pressure employers in ongoing collective‑bargaining talks.

Verdi demands a 7 % wage increase or at least €225 extra per month for shop floor staff, a minimum hourly wage of €14.90 for low‑paid groups, and higher apprentice allowances. The employers’ latest offer – a 2 % raise from November and a further 1.5 % from August 2027 – was described by Verdi as “far below the inflation rate and, for the lowest earners, even below the statutory minimum wage.”

The strikes are expected to cause longer checkout lines, reduced staffing on shelves and possible local shortages, especially in Hamburg, Bavaria and the Saarland, where demonstrations are also planned. Despite the actions, chain representatives say most stores will remain open and supply chains are secured. The dispute involves roughly 6,500 Kaufland workers, over 92,000 retail employees nationwide, and a sector that employs about 5.2 million people.