- Protesters from the sweets manufacturing sector stage a rally in Hamburg.
In the wage dispute within the candy factory sector, an estimated 450 to 500 workers in Hamburg took to the streets, as per union figures. The union, Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG), was the one who initiated this action, they stated. The strike was aimed at workers from Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony. NGG anticipates that around 650 workers could have joined the strike.
The union decided to scrap local wage deals in the candy industry, as they announced back in May. NGG is aggressively pushing for various demands, including a 9.9% wage hike, which translates to at least 360 euros per month. The duration of this increase should be twelve months.
Approximately a week ago, as per NGG, around 500 employees participated in a rally in Lübeck. There are about 5,000 workers involved in the operations controlled by the union in this wage region.
The demands are significantly different
The German Confectionery Industry Federation (BDSI), headquartered in Bonn, confirmed upon inquiry that employers in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein are offering a 3.1 and 2.6% wage increase in two stages over a 28-month period. In Lower Saxony and Bremen, they are proposing a 2.8 and 2.2% wage increase in two stages, over a 27-month period.
NGG claims that discussions for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein will continue on August 28, and the talks for Lower Saxony and Bremen will take place on September 5. The BDSI is the employers' association for all wage regions and is backed by regional associations. According to BDSI, negotiations are currently underway in six wage regions, and contracts are still valid in another three regions.
The strike for better wages in the candy industry involved workers not only from Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein but also from Lower Saxony. The German Confectionery Industry Federation mentioned that employers in Lower Saxony are proposing a 2.8% wage increase for their workers.
