Strike - Your right!

Translated with ChatGPT

Dear colleagues,

Zalando has refused to negotiate with your fellow workers from ver.di’s bargaining committee. That’s why the union ver.di is calling for the first strike at Zalando in Erfurt today. When a union calls a strike, every employee has the right to participate — meaning you can legally refuse to work at Zalando. This right is protected by Article 9, Paragraph 3 of the German Constitution.
Let’s stand together and fight for fair wages and salaries at Zalando!

Trade unions are the workers organised in them. In Germany, every worker has the right to be a member of a trade union.

Only trade unions are allowed to call a strike in Germany. If a union calls a strike, however, all colleagues (including vocational trainees) of the called companies may take part in a strike within the framework of collective bargaining. Your employer cannot give you a warning or dismiss you for taking part in a strike. Nor may they prevent you from taking part in the strike. You do not have to work overtime or sign off.

Temporary agency workers who are covered by agency work collective agreements are not allowed to work in companies that are on strike. Their employer can either assign them to a different workplace for that day or grant them paid leave. Temporary agency workers should resist having hours deducted from their time accounts—for example, with the help of their union, ver.di.

You will not be paid for the duration of the strike. However, members of the union calling the strike can get strike support. This is intended to partially compensate for your loss of wages – regardless of whether you are employed full-time or part-time or are a vocational trainee. Your union representative can tell you exactly how much strike pay you will receive. You are also entitled to legal protection if your employer gives you a warning or dismisses you, for example as a result of a strike. However, this is very rare.

Yes! You can become a union member on the same day and still receive strike pay. Please contact the strike leadership or your collective bargaining committee.

No! The planning of work schedules remains the responsibility of the works council. The collective agreement does not interfere with these rights.

If you have further questions about strikes or union membership, please contact your collective bargaining committee, local ver.di activists, or your union representative: