Dispute Over Collective Bargaining: Union and Employer Executives at Odds - Adoption process for the draft directive remains undecided by the Commission.
In a significant turn of events, the Union of Food, Beverages and Catering (NGG) and Doner skewer manufacturer Birtat have reached a collective wage agreement, marking a first in the kebab meat industry. The dispute, which led to several walkouts and intermittent strikes, involved workers demanding better and more transparent wages[1][2].
Birtat, the largest manufacturer of Doner skewers in Baden-Württemberg and one of the leading providers in Germany, operates the factory in Murr, near Ludwigsburg[3][4]. The NGG had been demanding a wage increase of 375 euros for the approximately 115 employees at Birtat[5].
The resolution came after a lengthy dispute, and the union celebrated it as a victory that recognizes the workers’ hard labor and dedication. The deal sets the starting monthly salary at €2,600 (approximately $3,300), with planned wage increases to be implemented by the end of 2026[1][3][4]. This deal covers about 120 workers at the factory.
Birtat plans to introduce a transparent wage system with fair and economically feasible salaries[6]. The company, which supplies thousands of snack bars and reaches more than 13 million consumers monthly, believes that a regulation at the company level would be more sensible than a regulation at the collective bargaining level[7].
The planned warning strikes at the Doner factory in Murr have been temporarily suspended until the scheduled negotiations on Thursday[8]. The exact nature of the differing viewpoints between the NGG and Birtat was not detailed in the article.
This agreement is expected to reduce fears of continued strikes impacting Döner prices in Germany[2]. The union and the company are set to meet again on Thursday to discuss further details of the agreement.
References: 1. Source 1 2. Source 2 3. Source 3 4. Source 4 5. Source 5 6. Source 6 7. Source 7 8. Source 8
- The collective wage agreement reached between the NGG and Birtat, a leading Doner skewer manufacturer, sets a significant precedent in both the kebab meat industry and the wider business sector, as it addresses employment policy regarding transparent and fair wages.
- The introduction of a transparent wage system by Birtat, as part of the recently negotiated employment policy, aims to ensure equitable salaries and foster a sense of industry-wide changes in finance and corporate practices.
