17,000 German Workers to Take a Long Weekend

Bloomberg reports that workers at Wal-Mart’s German unit are planning to go on strike this Friday and Saturday in a bid to secure a wage contract, according to Germany’s Ver.di labor union.

The union demands that Wal-Mart offers its 17,000 workers wage contracts or that it join an employer’s association, according to union spokesman Ruediger Wolff. Wal-Mart currently has the right to cut wages without union or government interference. The union does not rule out future demands for a 6.5% wage increase, says Mr. Wolff.

Moderator Comment: Should Wal-Mart abandon the German market?

Wal-Mart has more than its share of problems in Germany
from unWal-Mart like sales performance to labor issues. [George
Anderson – Moderator]

• Wal-Mart’s German
  Workers to Strike for Two Days – Bloomberg