A German union is threatening industrial action that would result in empty cash machines and no cash service for shops in the run-up to Christmas.
The dispute in the German cash and valuables transport sector involves members of the Verdi union, who could go on strike as early as Wednesday if no compromise is reached with employers on Tuesday.
Negotiators are meeting at Frankfurt airport to try to find a solution to the ongoing pay dispute for around 10,000 workers.
The German Association of Money and Value Services (BDGW) has offered pay increases ranging from 5.4% to 7.12% over two years, depending on the state, in addition to a fixed annual one-off payment.
“Tuesday’s negotiations are the last chance to avert strikes before Christmas,” said Verdi negotiator Sonja Austermühle. Otherwise, the strikes would lead to the cancellation of cash transport and the ATMs not being filled.
BDGW negotiator Hans-Jörg Hisam warned that the strikes would cause “enormous and lasting damage” to the association’s companies. “Such damage would inevitably impact workers,” Hisam said.
