Collective bargaining dispute: Why a warning strike can partially paralyze casinos

Frank Hawel, Verdi's chief negotiator, justified the strike call in clear terms: "The colleagues work every night in places where money seemingly plays no role – except when it comes to their working conditions." The strike was deliberately scheduled for a Saturday, the main revenue day.

The employer side, Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken GmbH, expressed regret over the announced warning strikes in a statement. Managing Director Tobias Wald explained that the company is in talks with Verdi about a uniform collective agreement intended to eliminate inequalities between locations and secure the company's long-term future.

Employer reactions

According to the company, it expects that gaming operations can likely be maintained at all three locations despite the announced strike, in accordance with the State Treaty on Gambling. The day before the strike plans became known, the casinos had presented an offer including a monthly one-off payment, which the bargaining committee rejected.

Verdi state chairwoman Maike Schollenberger sharply criticized the employer's stance: "It is absolutely fine that the casinos are a small but fine cash cow for the state of Baden-Württemberg. The employees are not." She called it irritating when a state subsidiary terminates all collective agreements instead of seeking fair compromises in a spirit of social partnership, as before.

In the autumn, the casinos terminated the collective agreements on workplace health promotion and retirement provision. In September 2025, the employer terminated all collective agreements. Two rounds of negotiations on the expired wage agreement remained without result.

Historic warning strike

Frank Hawel also emphasized that the twelve percent profit achieved last year must be reflected in a collective bargaining outcome: "Twelve percent profit last year must be reflected in a collective bargaining outcome."

This is the first warning strike in the history of the state-owned casino company. A total of more than 500 employees work in the three casinos. The affected establishments are state operations of the state of Baden-Württemberg.

The union stressed that the employees are prepared to fight for fair working conditions. The fronts between the bargaining parties remain hardened for the time being, with no new negotiation date in sight.