German Labor Conflicts Intensify as Profitable Plant Faces Relocation and Strike Votes Loom
17.06.2026 - 07:44:28 | boerse-global.de
Labor disputes across Germany are escalating, with unions ratcheting up pressure in several sectors simultaneously. From a high-profit factory in Bremen to postal workers at Postbank and medical staff at university hospitals, workers are preparing for confrontation while Volkswagen presses ahead with deep job cuts.
Thermo Fisher: A Profitable Plant on the Line
The most striking flashpoint involves the US conglomerate Thermo Fisher in Bremen. The site generates roughly €700 million in annual revenue and close to €300 million in profit, making it a top performer within the group. Yet management plans to shift mass-spectrometer production to the Czech Republic, directly hitting nearly 100 of the 520 jobs. The works council fears a complete shutdown over time.
Tensions boiled over on Tuesday when executives banned a meeting between the works council and local politicians from the factory grounds. The gathering moved to a mobile stage just outside the gate. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Thursday at the Atlantic Hotel.
Postbank Ballot Opens
In the banking sector, Verdi declared negotiations for around 9,000 Postbank employees deadlocked. An strike ballot opened Wednesday and will run until July 3. The union is demanding an eight percent pay hike, with a floor of €300 per month, and €200 more for apprentices. A 75 percent yes vote from members is required for an indefinite strike.
Despite the souring of talks, both sides have agreed to meet again in Berlin on June 30 for another round of discussions.
Hospital Workers Walk Out
Around 1,600 staff at university hospitals in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Ulm and Tübingen staged two-day warning strikes this week. Verdi aims to build pressure before the second round of negotiations. The union is seeking a 7.5 percent pay increase — at least €320 a month — plus €250 per month for trainees and a mobility allowance. The demands cover roughly 26,000 employees.
Volkswagen Restructuring Advances
While these fresh conflicts erupt, Volkswagen’s long-running restructuring continues. At German sites, the company has already secured binding agreements for more than 28,000 departures. The target is to cut over 35,000 positions by 2030, yielding net annual savings exceeding €4 billion.
The cost-cutting program began at the end of 2023, with a deal between management and worker representatives reached in December 2024. Volkswagen faces additional pressure from US tariffs that run into billions of euros. As a countermove, subsidiary Audi is exploring setting up production in the United States.
