Verdi strike in front of Saturn on Hohe Strasse in Cologne: boss on the palm

Cologne –

In the North Rhine-Westphalian retail sector, there is currently a new round of collective bargaining. On Tuesday (July 6), some employees went on strike in front of the Saturn in Cologne’s Hohe Strasse. That infuriates the managing director.

• Strike in front of Saturn on Kölner Hohe Strasse
• Saturn boss is critical of the strike
• Saturn in Cologne suffered from Corona

Naturally, in a strike, the interests of employees and employers collide. “I find employee rights important and fully respect them,” explains Gerrit Wöstenfeld, managing director of the Saturn store on Hohe Straße, to EXPRESS. “From my point of view, however, you should consider when to plan actions and raise your demands.”

Cologne: Strike at many companies

Not only at Saturn, but also at many other companies in Cologne, the employees are currently laying down in the collective bargaining dispute.

Saturn Hohe Straße suffered a lot from the pandemic and still supported its employees extensively during this time, said Wöstenfeld. “We significantly increased the short-time work allowance, continued to pay vacation pay and, despite the fact that our store was closed for several months, we did not dismiss any employees during the lockdown. We also posted new jobs immediately after the lockdown ended. “

For Wöstenfeld it was an absolutely wrong signal at the wrong time. “If you had talked about it in the coming year, it would certainly have been more appropriate.”

Cologne: Verdi rejects allegations and counters

Ultimately, you have to make a fine distinction: In the case of food, the workers’ claim may be justified due to the increase in sales in the pandemic. But that looks different in Cologne’s Saturn, for example, because it was also closed during the lockdown.

Verdi is calling for 4.5 percent and 45 euros more wages, salaries and training allowance for a term of twelve months in both sectors, as well as joint application for the general applicability of the collective bargaining agreements. Verdi also wants to achieve a minimum wage of EUR 12.50 per hour in retail.

In a communication, Verdi negotiator Silke Zimmer therefore also contradicts the employers and does not accept the argument of the economically difficult time.

“Despite the crisis, both sub-sectors have done very well and achieved an enormous increase in sales,” said the trade unionist. “Despite the pandemic, sales in wholesale and foreign trade rose by 1.8 percent in real terms. The retail sector has seen the highest increase in sales in over 20 years. “

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