Verdi union rejects wage offer for German seaport employees

The German trade union Verdi has rejected a wage increase offer from the Zentralverband der deutschen Seehafenbetriebe (ZDS) for approximately 11,000 employees working in German seaports, including locations such as Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen, Emden, Brake, and Wilhelmshaven.

The ZDS proposal includes a 5.1 percent increase in basic hourly wages over a 19-month period, supplemented by a 300 euro increase in holiday pay for 2027 and an annual allowance of 460 euros for container terminal workers. The ZDS argues this offer is highly competitive compared to other sectors, such as the chemical and energy industries, and claims the rejection ignores current economic realities.

Verdi, however, maintains that the offer is insufficient. Based on a survey of over 6,100 employees, the union is seeking an 8.2 percent increase in hourly wages with a contract duration of only one year. Verdi negotiator Sylvi Krisch has indicated that the union is waiting for a signal from employers to continue negotiations but has also threatened warning strikes.