Zalando’s €70 Million Gap Forces Mediation Panel to Decide Labour Terms for 2,000 Workers
21.06.2026 - 08:55:45 | boerse-global.de
The works council at Zalando’s Erfurt logistics centre has accused management of prioritizing lavish corporate spending over job protections, as a breakdown in social-plan talks now pushes the dispute to a legally mandated mediation panel.
Negotiations collapsed on June 20 after the employer offered €30 million in compensation for the planned closure, while worker representatives demanded €100 million. The works council pointed to recent multibillion-euro expenditures, including a €1 billion investment in rival fashion platform About You, a €300 million share buyback, and €65 million in sponsorship payments to the German Football Association (DFB), as evidence that the company could afford a far richer package.
The two sides also disagree on how the final round of talks unfolded. Contrary to company reports that the session ended after just a few minutes, the works council insists it lasted roughly two hours before being called off.
Because voluntary agreement proved impossible, the conflict now lands before an Einigungsstelle — a statutory mediation body designed to resolve internal workplace disputes. The first hearing is scheduled for June 23, with a target resolution by July 9.
An interest reconciliation (Interessenausgleich) covering the broad terms of the shutdown has already been reached. The social plan, on the other hand, is meant specifically to cushion the financial blow for the workforce. Without it, affected employees face uncertainty as the closure deadline approaches.
Zalando plans to shut the Erfurt logistics centre on September 30, 2026, eliminating approximately 2,000 positions. The mediation panel’s decision will determine whether the workers receive severance or other financial support — and whether the company can close the site on schedule without further legal wrangling.
