- Cautionary action taken towards confectionery laborers
Individuals working in the candy manufacturing sector in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony are being urged to join a protest strike today. According to estimates from the National Union of Food, Beverage, and Catering Workers (NGG), around 700 to 800 people are expected to participate. A march through the streets of Hamburg has been planned for the morning, as stated in a press release. This strike will impact businesses like Unilever, Nestlé, and Barry Callebaut, among others.
The union had previously ended multiple collective bargaining agreements, as reported in May. The NGG is demanding various things, including a 9.9% salary increase - equating to at least an extra 360 euros per month - over a period of twelve months. Around 500 employees participated in a protest in Lübeck on August 12, according to NGG. There are approximately 5,000 employees who are unionized in the negotiating region.
The German National Confectionery Industry Association (BDSI), located in Bonn, confirmed upon request that employers in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein are offering a two-stage wage increase of 3.1% and 2.6% over a period of 28 months. In Lower Saxony and Bremen, they are offering a two-stage wage increase of 2.8% and 2.2% over a period of 27 months.
According to NGG, negotiations for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein will carry on on August 28, and talks for Lower Saxony and Bremen will restart on September 5. The BDSI represents employers in all negotiating regions and is backed by regional associations. According to the BDSI, negotiations are currently taking place in six negotiating regions, with three regions still having active agreements in place.
The workers are mobilizing for a strike today due to dissatisfaction with the proposed wage increases, as they believe the offered increases are insufficient compared to the NGG's demands. The strike could potentially lead to disruptions in operations for companies like Unilever, Nestlé, and Barry Callebaut, who are directly affected.
