In the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations, an extension of job protection for Postbank employees until the end of 2027 is at the top of the agenda for the banking union DBV. In addition, employees of Postbank, Postbank Filialvertrieb, PCC Services GmbH, and BCB AG expect "compensation for inflation losses, which have exceeded ten percent," the German Bank Employees' Association (DBV) announced on Friday. Therefore, in the 2024 wage round, the DBV is demanding an increase in all salaries by 14.5 percent at Postbank, which belongs to the Deutsche Bank Group.
Considering the announced closure of almost half of the current 550 Postbank branches by mid-2026, the trade union Verdi also insists on an extension of job protection. Currently, operational redundancies at Postbank are excluded until January 31, 2024.
The DBV is preparing for a "vigorous" wage round, as Torsten Bielan, the spokesperson for the DBV workgroup at Postbank headquarters, explained: "In normal times, the employer Deutsche Bank has only conceded to wage demands when pressure was applied by the workforce through industrial action. There is hardly any reason to assume that this will be different with such a significant package."
Activating the workforce to exert pressure may be necessary, especially in light of the demanding negotiations and the impending job cuts due to branch closures. The DBV and Verdi are striving for the best possible outcome for their members and are determined to fight for their interests.