Kaufland supermarkets face Verdi strike over wage demands in Germany

The Verdi trade union called a series of strike actions at major German supermarket chains, including Kaufland, Rewe, Netto, Famila and Penny, on 25‑26 June 2026. Workers in Hamburg, the Rhein‑Neckar region, Saarland and other areas walked out, demanding a 7 % wage increase or a minimum raise of €300 per month, higher minimum wages and a twelve‑month collective agreement. Union representatives described the employers’ offer of a 2 % increase in July 2026 followed by 1.5 % in July 2027 as “far below the inflation rate” and “below the legal minimum wage”. Employers said stores would remain open but with reduced staff, longer queues and limited shelf‑replenishment. The strikes are part of a broader retail‑sector tariff dispute that also targets other retailers such as H&M, Primark and IKEA, but Kaufland remains the focal point of the action.