German Autobahn workers threaten strikes as wage talks collapse

A bitter pay standoff leaves 14,000 Autobahn employees in limbo. Without a fair deal, Germany's highways could face major disruptions as strikes loom.

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2026 April 27 . 6:04 PM

1 min read

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German Autobahn workers threaten strikes as wage talks collapse

The union described the current state of collective bargaining as "unacceptable." "If Autobahn GmbH needs a signal to move negotiations forward constructively, then they should get one," said lead negotiator Oliver Bandosz. Any inevitable disruptions would clearly lie with the employer's side.

The union plans the following actions:

Strikes have already taken place during this round of wage talks. Verdi is demanding a 7% pay increase for the roughly 14,000 employees of Autobahn GmbH, with a minimum raise of €300 per month. After two rounds of negotiations, the employer has proposed an excessively long contract term of 29 months. Additionally, they have rejected a minimum flat-rate increase that would particularly benefit lower wage groups.