The familiar opening notes of Germany’s “Tagesschau” were broadcast without a newsreader on screen this week – a rare “emergency version” – as labour unrest swept through ARD’s regional public broadcasters. Since June 17, an estimated 37,000 employees at WDR, SWR, BR and NDR have been staging walkouts called by the ver.di trade union, causing significant disruption to radio and television programmes across the country.
The strike action hit hardest at WDR in North Rhine-Westphalia, where a 48-hour walkout forced the station to scrap entire programmes. Flagship shows such as the regional magazine “Lokalzeit”, the science programme “Quarks”, the consumer affairs format “Markt”, and daily staples like “Hier und Heute” and “Servicezeit” were taken off
Other ARD member stations faced similar turmoil. At SWR in southwest Germany, the “Landesschau Rheinland-Pfalz” and several news bulletins were cancelled on the first day of industrial action. The Bavarian broadcaster BR dropped its regional news slots, and multiple radio channels were put on air without presenters. At NDR in northern Germany, walkouts stretched into the early hours of Friday.
What the Labour Dispute Is Really About
The strikes are the most visible sign of a broken-off pay negotiation. ver.di is demanding a 7 percent salary increase across the board, with a minimum monthly raise of 300 euros, over a 12-month contract period. For trainees, the union wants an additional 200 euros per month.
The employers’ offer remains far from that target. ARD broadcasters have proposed agreements that stretch between 35 months and include annual increases ranging from 1 to 2 percent. NDR points to its own average offer of 1.8 percent and argues the union’s demands are not financially sustainable. BR tabled a staggered plan that would deliver total pay growth of 4.23 percent by December 2028, beginning with a 1.23 percent bump in July 2026.
All sides are looking over their shoulder at the independent Commission to Determine the Financial Needs of Public Broadcasters (KEF). The KEF has projected increases of 2.5 percent for 2026 and 3.0 percent for both 2027 and 2028 – figures the broadcasters say anchor any realistic offer.
Next Steps in the Negotiations
Despite the tensions, both camps have agreed to return to the bargaining table. The next rounds are already set: NDR will resume talks on June 26, followed by SWR on June 30 and WDR on July 1.
Whether further walkouts will happen in the meantime remains unclear. ver.di said it launched the current strikes to increase pressure on management, aiming to prevent what it calls a real-wage loss for the 37,000 employees covered by the dispute. The union insists that without a substantial deal, broadcasters risk years of demoralised staff and an erosion of programme quality.
