In protest against the tough restructuring course at the insolvent department store group Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, the trade union Verdi has called on workers in numerous branches to go on warning strikes on Wednesday. Department stores in Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate were affected, the union reported.

According to the trade union, almost 1000,<> Galeria employees in Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse had already stopped work on Holy Saturday. However, according to the company, all branches remained open despite the warning strikes.

The background to the protest actions is the restructuring plan for the company approved by the creditors. It provides for the closure of 47 of the 129 branches nationwide, which would mean the loss of about 4000,<> jobs.

"Deadlocked collective bargaining"

However, Verdi did not justify the warning strikes with the restructuring plan, but with deadlocked collective bargaining for the currently around 17,000 employees. The union demands, among other things, the recognition of the regional collective bargaining agreements of the retail trade as well as insolvency protection for time credits and payment claims that are not due with the monthly remuneration.

"The workforce has been investing money in the restructuring of the company for many years and waives up to 5500 euros every year," said chief negotiator Marcel Schäuble. The fact that employers are now again demanding wage cuts is bringing people onto the streets at Galeria.

The Galeria board had criticized plans for warning strikes. "The planned strike measures are obviously unlawful and threaten to cause ruinous damage, for which you would be held liable," wrote CEO Miguel Müllenbach and Galeria chief representative Arndt Geiwitz to the Verdi leadership. The letter was available to the portal "Business Insider". Both bosses recalled that Galeria was still in insolvency proceedings and an "existential crisis situation".

Collective bargaining is due to continue at the end of April.