About ver.di — Together For Fairness

What ver.di is

Germany's united services trade union

ver.di — short for Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft — was founded in 2001 from the merger of five separate service-sector unions. Today it represents around 1.9 million members across retail, healthcare, public services, logistics, telecommunications, finance, media, and many other industries.

It is the second-largest trade union in Germany and one of the largest in the world. ver.di's purpose is straightforward: to secure fair pay, better working conditions, and strong employee rights — through collective bargaining, legal support, and political representation.

Join ver.di Visit verdi.de Collective agreements

ver.di

Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft

~1.9M

Members across Germany

2001

Founded

#2

Largest union in Germany

What ver.di secures

Three pillars of workplace fairness

Everything ver.di does flows from these three core priorities — and they're exactly the priorities we share.

Fair Pay

Negotiating binding collective agreements that set minimum salary scales, annual increases tied to inflation and productivity, and protections against undercutting.

Better Working Conditions

From working hours and shift rules to vacation entitlements above the legal minimum — collective agreements cover the conditions that shape your daily work life.

Strong Employee Rights

Legal protection against arbitrary dismissals, individual legal support for workplace issues, and political representation at the national level.

Why it matters

The collective bargaining agreement (Tarifvertrag)

A collective bargaining agreement is a legally binding contract between a union and an employer. In Germany it is the cornerstone of fair labor — and the only legal way to secure binding salary increases and working conditions that an employer cannot unilaterally undo.

What it protects

• Minimum salary scales
• Annual increases
• Vacation above the legal minimum
• Working hours & overtime rules
• Protection from arbitrary dismissals

How we get there

• Strong organized workforce
• Credible negotiating partner (ver.di)
• Clear, prioritized demands
• Member backing and unity
• Legal expertise via ver.di

Bottom line: A collective agreement is not granted — it must be won. ver.di brings 1.9 million members and decades of experience. We bring the unity of our workplace. Together, we have the leverage to make a real difference.

Become a ver.di member

Membership in ver.di gives you access to legal support, professional development, and — most importantly — the collective strength of 1.9 million colleagues across Germany. The more of us, the stronger our voice.

Join ver.di