Ninth dialogues between newspaper editors association: Union of publishers fails to find common ground, pulls out
Headline: Nineth Bargaining Round with Publishers' Association Falls Flat: Union Unhappy with Employer's U-Turn
In an unsatisfying turn of events, the ninth round of negotiations between the United Services Trade Union (ver.di) and the German Journalists' Association (DJV) on one side, and the Federal Association of Digital Publishers and Newspaper Publishers (BDZV) on the other, ended without a deal on Monday (23rd June, 2025). This disappointing outcome stemmed from the publishers stepping back from previous agreements.
In stark contrast to expectations, the Publishers' Association proposed wage increases that left the union disgruntled. Initial promises of a 190 euro raise were slashed down to an unacceptable flat rate increase of merely 100 euros. Furthermore, they withdrew from the consensus-based wage increase model established in the eighth round, which included two 2% wage hikes and a one-time 200 euro bonus (effective until May 2027). In its place, they're now suggesting a longer term with lower and later wage increases.
ver.di negotiator Matthias von Fintel voiced his disappointment: "The BDZV showed a cloud of uncertainty during this ninth round of negotiations. As the talks progressed, the publishers made dramatic about-faces on their earlier positions, signaling a lack of willingness to compromise and a lack of assistance in reaching a mutually beneficial agreement."
He further explained, "This move is a slap in the face for employees who have worked diligently to find a common ground in all nine rounds so far. The upcoming negotiations must see significant pressure from the employees to encourage concessions from the employers. The daily-struggling employees rightly expect substantial wage increases, and it's high time the publishers started laying the groundwork for this."
The next meeting is planned for July 18, 2025, in Hamburg.
As for the press releases, Daniela Milutin handled that aspect.
In these extended negotiations between DJV and BDZV, the central topic is typically wage increases for journalists. The specifics of the latest round's proposed wage increases aren't explicitly mentioned in available sources. habitual roadblocks in these negotiations often stem from disagreements over wage hike percentages, contract duration, and terms tied to the raises. Trade unions in German media traditionally navigate the tough balance between journalists' demands for fair compensation and publishers' financial limitations due to the digital transformation of the news industry.
No explicit details on the specific wage increase proposals or the precise reasons for the disagreement could be found in the current search results. Additional official statements or media coverage would be needed to provide these details.
The Publishers' Association's unexpected proposal for a minimal wage increase has caused discontent within the union, contrasting previous promises of a higher raise. Moreover, the withdrawal from the consensus-based wage increase model has raised concerns, as the industry is navigating through the financial challenges of the digital transformation in business.
