Overview
- Verdi announced on Thursday that it will widen warning strikes at private banks from November 16, starting in Saxony, Saxony‑Anhalt and Thuringia, to build leverage ahead of negotiations.
- The union demands 6 percent pay rises for about 150,000 staff and a €300 monthly boost for trainees on a 12‑month deal while employers have offered a 4.2 percent rise in two steps under a 36‑month contract that becomes effective in mid‑2027.
- Verdi says the employers’ offer would mean roughly 1.4 percent annual pay growth and would not keep up with expected inflation, and it also accuses banks of refusing to discuss trainee take‑on and stronger dismissal protections.
- The employers argue that banks face major external risks and need large investments in IT and digital infrastructure, and their lead negotiator warned that steep pay hikes could threaten jobs.
- The next bargaining round is set for November 23 in Berlin, and the strikes could cause short‑term service disruptions for customers while shaping whether talks move toward a faster, larger pay settlement or a longer, smaller deal.