German Postbank staff strike, fearing sale by Deutsche Bank

Berlin: Staff at German bank Postbank launched an indefinite strike on Monday in eastern parts of the country, amid growing speculation parent company Deutsche Bank plans to sell off the subsidiary. Branches stayed closed in parts of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Brandenburg states while hundreds of employees were to rally in Berlin, said services union Verdi. The bank’s 9,500 branch employees are demanding job guarantees beyond a possible sale of their bank until the end of 2020, as well as a five-per cent wage rise and other benefits.