Nationwide warning strike at over 80 locations

Press release

Artists' unions send a powerful signal for fair remuneration

Berlin/Hamburg/Cologne, June 20, 2025 - At 11:30 a.m. sharp on Wednesday, work came to a standstill for 30 minutes at numerous theaters and concert halls in Germany. Once again, several thousand artists and artistic-technical employees took part in the joint industrial action by the four artists' unions VdO, unisono, GDBA and BFFS at more than 80 theaters and concert halls.

The participants came from all professional groups:

Actors, chorus singers, musical theater soloists, dancers, orchestra musicians, puppeteers, employees from the operations offices, employees from the technical departments, employees from costume and make-up, assistants, dramaturges, directors of studies and many more.

The overwhelming turnout shows that the demand for a full takeover of the TVöD agreement has broad support among employees who currently work on the basis of the NV Bühne and TVK collective agreements.

Among other things, the trade union demands focus on

• Increase in basic salaries and activity allowances (TVK)
  • by 3% (at least 110 euros) as of April 1, 2025
  • by a further 2.8% on 1 May 2026
• Increase in the allowance (13th salary or summer/Christmas bonus) to 85%
• One individual day off per year
• Transfer of the shift allowance increase of 60 euros to the basic salary

"The turnout was clear and determined. It shows that our colleagues are standing up for fair and equal pay," says Heinrich Schafmeister, BFFS collective bargaining representative.

Lisa Jopt, Executive President of the GDBA, emphasizes: "The warning strike was necessary because the German Stage Association has so far refused to adopt the TVöD agreement on an equal footing. With this action, we are increasing the pressure ahead of the next round of negotiations."

"It's about the material recognition of our artistic work. Employees in the theater and concert sector must remain on an equal footing with other groups in the public sector," says Robin von Olshausen, Managing Director of unisono.

"Our demands are clear, justified and necessary. The employer side must move - today was an unmistakable signal in this direction," added Gerrit Wedel, Managing Director of the VdO. The next round of negotiations will take place on June 25, 2025. The four partner trade unions are determined to continue to stand up for the legitimate interests of artists and stage employees - including with further industrial action if necessary

You can find the press release as a PDF here.