German confectionery businesses press ahead with strike action over pay and conditions
Production of pralines in a factory for the food industry - conveyor belt worker with chocolate
Germany’s confectionery trade body, the BDSI has branded industry manufacturing strikes in North Rhine-Westphalia are “completely unnecessary” as negotiations over pay and conditions have been further postponed until September, reports Neill Barston.
According to the Food-Gourmet-Gastronomy Union (NGG) in local reports, some 5,900 workers are involved in the action, have been named as gummy bear manufacturer Lorenz Snack World, chocolate firm Brandt Zwieback-Schokoladen and bakery business A&D Feinbackwaren.
The companies are believed to have sought a one-year pay deal of a 9.9% pay rise in light of major inflation rises over the past two years that have hit many small to medium sized-enterprises significantly, as well as dampened consumer confidence. In response, employers have reportedly offered 2.8% for that first year period, with subsequent 2.1% rises – which was not accepted by the union.
Consequently, the BDSI has labelled the resulting strikes that are set to take place as being /completely unfounded and completely exaggerated’ in its view, as the companies and employees failed to reach an agreement
As the organisation noted, the collective bargaining for the NRW collective bargaining area, which began on June 26th, 2024, was postponed to September 4th, 2024 by mutual agreement between the BDSI and the Food-Gourmet-Gastronomy Union (NGG) on the first day of negotiations.
“Instead of continuing to negotiate with the employers at the beginning of September as agreed, we are now faced with unfounded and completely excessive strikes in companies in North Rhine-Westphalia – and this despite a fair offer that the employers made in economically difficult times,” explains Dr. Mario Mundorf, managing director of collective bargaining policy at the BDSI.
“We are once again underlining our serious desire to reach a collective agreement in a timely manner for the benefit of our workforce, but also our companies. The BDSI expects the union to return to the negotiating table for constructive discussions at the next meeting on September 4th, 2024.”
