Retail in Schleswig-Holstein: Verdi and the Northern Trade Association agree on collective bargaining agreements

The approximately 124,000 retail employees in Schleswig-Holstein will receive more money. After four rounds of negotiations, the Verdi union and the North Trade Association have agreed on a collective agreement, the union announced.

Accordingly, employees will receive three percent more pay retroactively to August 1st and a further two percent from May 1st, 2027. A disproportionate increase was achieved in the lower salary groups and in training remuneration. According to Verdi, a collective minimum wage of 14.20 euros per hour was agreed retroactively from August and 14.90 euros from May 2027. The collective agreement has a term of 25 months.

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“The collective bargaining agreement in Schleswig-Holstein is based on the agreements made in other collective bargaining areas and was still hard fought for,” said Verdi negotiator Bert Stach. With strong strike action, our colleagues in the retail sector strengthened the collective bargaining commission's back and thus pushed through this collective agreement.

The employers' negotiator, Michael Fink, spoke of a more than challenging collective bargaining round. “The companies have gone to the limits of what is possible. Nevertheless, we are pleased that today we managed to reach an agreement that is feasible for employees and employers.” It offers both sides planning security for the next two years.