Galeria Workers Strike Over Controversial Wage Conditions

Verdi union protests new ownership's demand for tariff contract waivers in exchange for pay raises.

Galeria's new owners, NRDC and Bernd Beetz's firm, have proposed pay raises contingent on employees waiving tariff agreements.
The Verdi union claims the offers are 'poisoned,' forcing workers to choose between losing benefits or missing out on raises.
Employees at seven locations in Berlin and Brandenburg are participating in a one-day strike to protest these conditions.
Plans to close the Galeria store at Alexanderplatz in 2025 add to employee uncertainty, as the site is slated for redevelopment.
The situation highlights tensions between corporate strategies and worker rights, with Verdi urging the management to negotiate.