Verdi Launches Strike Ballot for 9,000 Postbank Workers as Deutsche Bank Refuses to Negotiate

Verdi union at Postbank calls for strike vote after wage negotiations fail; demands 8% pay rise and AI training protections, with fourth-round talks set for June 30.

Union members at Postbank will vote from June 17 to July 3 on whether to authorize indefinite walkouts after labor talks collapsed without an employer proposal. The third round of negotiations ended Monday with Verdi accusing the Deutsche Bank subsidiary of refusing to make a wage offer.

A fourth round is scheduled for June 30 in Berlin, giving both sides one last chance to avert a strike. Under union rules, at least 75 percent of eligible voters must approve any work stoppage for it to be binding.

Verdi is demanding an 8 percent pay increase, with a minimum raise of 300 euros per month. Apprentices would receive an additional 200 euros. Beyond wages, the union is pushing for job and location guarantees tied to digital transformation.

A key sticking point is training rights linked to automation and artificial intelligence. Verdi wants specific qualification protections and safeguards for AI deployment, arguing that long-term employability depends on workers being able to adapt to new technology.

Deutsche Bank declined to comment on the failed talks or the looming strike threat. Brief warning strikes in recent months had already disrupted operations at Postbank branches and customer service centers.