ARD broadcasters face strikes as wage talks collapse ahead of May negotiations
The Verdi union has called for strikes at several ARD broadcasters this Thursday. Collective bargaining agreements on wages and fees at Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), and Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) were terminated at the end of January 2026, with negotiations still deadlocked, Verdi announced in explaining the move.
The union is demanding a seven percent increase in wages and fees, with a minimum raise of €300 per month and at least €200 more for trainees.
"ARD's bargaining representatives are dragging their feet, fueling the escalation of this labor dispute," said Christoph Schmitz-Dethlefsen, Verdi's federal board member responsible for media. The next round of talks is scheduled for May 19 at NDR, May 22 at BR, and June 9 at WDR.
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