More than 8,000 employees of the supermarket chain Kaufland in Slovakia may soon go on strike. The OZ KOVO trade union, which represents their interests, announced a pre-strike state on July 17, known as štrajková pohotovosť (strike readiness). This happened after unsuccessful negotiations with the company's management about signing a new collective agreement.
For now, nothing changes for shoppers — all 88 stores in the chain are operating as usual. However, if the parties do not reach an agreement, the situation could escalate to a full strike with the closure of supermarkets.
What happened and what do the trade unions demand?
The main reason for the conflict is the demand for so-called 13th and 14th salaries. Trade unions insist that these bonuses should be guaranteed and included in the collective agreement. Specifically, they propose that employees receive an extra payment equal to half of their monthly salary before the June and December payments.
According to trade union representatives, these demands are reasonable because Kaufland has shown consistently high financial results in Slovakia. For example, in the last five years, the chain's net profit exceeded 420 million euros. The trade unions believe that employees who worked hard to achieve these results deserve a guaranteed share of the profits.
Negotiations lasted for several months, but even involving an independent mediator from the Ministry of Labor did not help find a compromise.
What is Kaufland's position?
Kaufland management does not agree to include bonuses as a mandatory payment. Instead, the company offered other forms of incentives, including:
Additional vacation days beyond the legal limit.
Regular monthly discounts of 20% on purchases in the chain's stores.
An increase in the meal allowance.
Company representatives emphasize that over 225 million euros have been allocated for personnel costs this year, and the starting salary for a full-time employee is 1,200 euros. They also state that they are ready for further dialogue but want to find a solution that is fair to employees and also ensures the long-term stability of the business.
The trade unions rejected the offer of discounts, arguing that to get the full benefit, an employee would have to spend a significant amount of their own money in the employer's stores. They insist on a cash bonus.
What are the risks for shoppers and employees?
During the štrajková pohotovosť (strike readiness) stage, nothing changes for the chain's customers. This is just a warning step that signals the seriousness of the trade unions' intentions.
However, if negotiations continue to be unsuccessful, the trade union will hold a vote among all employees it represents. If the majority supports the idea of a strike, it will be officially announced. This could lead to:
For shoppers: temporary store closures, reduced working hours, or a limited range of goods due to work disruptions.
For employees: participation in a legal strike, during which they do not perform their work duties. This could mean a temporary loss of earnings, but if successful, it could lead to improved working conditions and higher incomes in the future.
What happens next?
Currently, the trade unions are preparing for the voting process. No specific deadlines have been set, as it is necessary to ensure that employees in all stores have the opportunity to vote.
Trade union representatives emphasize that their goal is not the strike itself, but to reach a fair agreement with the employer. At the same time, the situation at Kaufland is not currently seen as a systemic problem for the entire retail sector in Slovakia, where other large chains have collective agreements with different trade union organizations.
