Trade union leaders have asked workers at Germany's Postbank to authorize indefinite strikes against the bank after the latest round of collective bargaining talks fell short of a deal on wage and job security demands.
Postbank, a subsidiary of German banking giant Deutsche Bank, has been negotiating for months with the German Bank Employees' Association (DBV) and the trade union verdi, who together represent about 12,000 employees.
If workers authorize further action against Postbank, then renewed strikes could begin anytime after May 3, according to DBV.
There have already been a number of shorter one-day strikes aimed at increasing pressure on the bank.
Verdi negotiator Jan Duscheck said some limited progress was made in the most recent negotiations with the bank, but "the positions are still far apart, especially when it comes to salaries."
The labour groups said they planned to refrain from further work stoppages while employees are voting on the strike ballot.
Verdi has demanded pay raises of at least 15.5% for workers, or €600 ($639) more a month for the lowest-paid staff at Postbank. The union is also calling for the protection against dismissal to be extended until the end of 2028.
Deutsche Bank announced plans to close up to 250 of its 550 Postbank branches by mid-2026 and reduce the number of employees.
Sources in the banking industry told dpa that Deutsche Bank recently countered by offering a two-stage salary icrease totalling 10% to be instituted over a period of 27 months, as well as job protections through June 30, 2027.
Duscheck, the union negotiator, criticized Deutsche Bank's salary offer as too low and the contract term as too long, arguing that the raises wouldn't offset the impact of high inflation over recent years.
"It cements the loss of purchasing power for Postbank employees in the long term and is therefore unacceptable," he said.