Deutsche Presse-Agentur faces historic 24-hour strike over wage disputes
Journalists and staff at Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) have begun a 24-hour warning strike—the longest in the news agency's history. The walkout started at midnight on Friday, March 20, 2026, after wage negotiations between unions and management broke down. Over 300 employees from offices nationwide, including Hamburg and Berlin, joined the action in unusually high numbers.
The strike affects dpa's headquarters, state bureaus, the Berlin newsroom, and subsidiaries until 10 p.m. on Friday. Unions Ver.di and DJV called around 800 staff to participate, with many joining a digital assembly from multiple locations. This surpasses the previous record—a two-hour stoppage in 2019—marking the most significant industrial action in dpa's history.
Management's latest offer includes a €110 monthly increase for 2026 and a 2.5% raise from early 2027, spread over 24 months. The unions reject this as insufficient, arguing it fails to address rising inflation or the heavy workload faced by journalists. Instead, they demand a fixed €250 monthly rise in 2026, followed by a 2.5% increase in 2027, within an 18-month contract.
A fifth round of talks is scheduled for next Friday in Berlin. Unions have expressed hope for constructive discussions but insist on a deal that reflects the financial and professional pressures on staff.
The strike highlights deep disagreements over pay and working conditions at Germany's largest news agency. With negotiations set to resume, both sides must now find a compromise to end the deadlock. The outcome will determine whether further industrial action is avoided.
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