The new Heuertarifvertrag HTV-See foresees a 3.0% base-pay increase on 1 January 2026 and a further 2.8% on 1 January 2027, for a total of 5.8% over the contract term

In a positive step German shipowners, the association for the industry, and the trade union ver.di are all saying that a fair agreement has been reached for a new contract for German seafarers.  They concluded an agreement during the second negotiations , which took place on December 4, and will apply to all seafarers sailing on German-flag ships that are members of the collective bargaining association

The new Heuertarifvertrag HTV

The new Heuertarifvertrag HTV-See foresees a 3.0% base-pay increase on 1 January 2026 and a further 2.8% on 1 January 2027, for a total of 5.8% over the contract term, which runs until 30 June 2028 and covers several thousand seafarers.  Ver.di negotiator André Scheer called the result a “real wage increase” while acknowledging that the agreement does not fully compensate for the real-income erosion of recent years

The first negotiations

The two sides had been far apart during their first negotiations in November, raising the possibility of disruptions to German-flag shipping. The union opened the negotiations by calling for a 9.5 percent pay increase with a 12-month contract. They highlighted that real wages had decreased 6.5 percent over the past five years due to inflation. The shipping companies started with a position offering a 2.1 percent increase for 2026 and 2 percent for 2027.

German seafarers had demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the offers by staging demonstrations at the offices of the major companies, including Hapag-Lloyd, Fairplay. TT-Line, BLE, and the pilot association. Members said that if ver.di called for actions or strikes, they would participate.

A challenging time for the industry

German shipowners highlighted that it is a challenging time for the industry with many uncertainties. The German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) said its focus was to ensure the long-term economic stability and viability of the sector. They called the terms of the agreement “reasonable” and said it recognizes the contributions of seafarers.

The union had initially sought 9.5% over 12 months, citing inflation-driven losses of about 6.5% in real wages and strong profits at many shipowners. Employers’ opening offers of 2.1% for 2026 and 2.0% for 2027 had been described by ver.di as “a provocation”. 

 Growing pressure from crews

Before the second round, ver.di reported growing pressure from crews, with hundreds of seafarers from companies including Hapag-Lloyd, Fairplay, TT-Line, BLE and the Hamburg pilots’ operating association signing declarations supporting the union’s position and readiness to take protest action. Union leaders attributed the eventual compromise partly to that mobilization.

About ver.di

ver.di (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft) is a German trade union  was established in March 2001 as the result of a merger of five individual unions, all of which, other than the DAG, had previously belonged to the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB): .In the same month, Verdi concluded its first collective agreement with Deutsche Lufthansa A short time later, Verdi was officially accepted into the DGB.[ It operates as a legally recognised union representing workers in services, transport, media and the public sector, with membership structured through regional and sectoral divisions.  

Association of German Shipowners (VDR)

Association of German Shipowners (VDR) is a legally registered industry association founded in 1907 that represents German shipping companies in national, EU and international regulatory and policy forums. It engages in labour, safety, environmental and maritime-economic matters on behalf of its members.

The German Shipowners’ Association represents around 200 member companies active in the German shipping industry. Germany has the fourth-largest merchant navy fleet in the world. As an employers’ association, VDR conducts collective bargaining and social partner negotiations. Established in 1907, VDR represents German maritime shipping companies in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, London, Geneva, and on a global scale.

Related : Italy : Unions on strike to support the fund of the exodus of dockworkers

German Shipowners ,  union ver.di , German seafarers , collective bargaining association ,negotiations wages, Heuertarifvertrag HTV-