Wage dispute in Bavaria - Warning strikes loom in the hospitality industry around the European Championship semi-finals
The Bavarian hospitality industry's wage conflict escalates. The NGG union is preparing warning strikes around the semi-finals of the UEFA European Football Championship, according to negotiator Mustafa Öz. The games themselves should not be affected, Öz added. One game takes place on Tuesday in Munich, the other on Wednesday in Dortmund.
NGG negotiator Öz did not yet provide details about the plans. The warning strikes are expected to affect major cities in Bavaria, including both gastronomy and accommodation - particularly notable hotels.
The escalation of the wage conflict in Bavaria comes as a surprise because there have already been agreements in Hesse and Saxony. Both sides blame each other and present the current negotiation status differently.
The Hospitality Industry Association of Bavaria (Dehoga Bayern) wrote on its Facebook page that it had offered almost 15% over two years. "We have reached the limits of our possibilities and have put a super offer on the table," said Landesvorsitzender Thomas Geppert to the dpa. Concretely, the employer side offers €300 for the empty months of April to June, followed by three percentage increases: 5.9% on July 1, another 5% on April 1, 2025, and 3.5% on December 1, 2025, with a validity until the end of September 2026. This offer is still valid until the end of the month, but it is the "red line, beyond which we cannot go."
However, the union states that there was no offer of more than 15% over two years. "If we had received that, we would have accepted it," Öz emphasized. The conditions of the settlement from Hesse were also proposed but were rejected. Öz now sees only one way out: mediation. The NGG still wants to appoint former Munich SPD Oberburgermeister Christian Ude as mediator. However, the Dehoga sees no need for mediation.
Ude expressed frustration with the Dehoga's approach on Friday. He tried to reach the negotiator there on Thursday but was told to wait until the following week. This is unusual for tariff negotiations, Ude said. "The Bavarian gastronomy and hotel industry are in the spotlight like never before. One should seize every opportunity to quickly and seriously advance negotiations and avoid queues."
- The semi-finals of the UEFA European Football Championship in Munich and Dortmund are approaching, but the wage dispute between the hospitality industry in Bavaria and the NGG union could disrupt the region's hospitality industry, including notable hotels.
- The NGG union is considering a warning strike around the semifinals, following the escalation of the wage dispute in Bavaria, despite previous agreements in Hesse and Saxony.
- The Dehoga, the Hospitality Industry Association of Bavaria, has offered a wage increase of nearly 15% over two years, which includes a €300 bonus for the empty months of April to June, followed by incremental increases until September 2026.
- However, the union, led by negotiator Mustafa Öz, claims that no offer exceeding 15% over two years has been made, and they are now advocating for mediation, specifically with former Munich SPD Oberburgermeister Christian Ude as the mediator.
- Despite the urgency of the situation and the potential impact on the European Football Championship, the Dehoga appears to be reluctant to engage in mediation, prompting frustration from Ude and concerns that negotiations might not progress as quickly as necessary.
- The escalation of the wage dispute in Bavaria could affect tariffs and wages in other parts of Europe, as the hospitality industry is closely tied to the European Football Championship and other major events.
- It remains unclear if and when the mediator will be appointed or whether a resolution can be reached before the semi-finals of the UEFA European Football Championship in Munich and Dortmund, potentially impacting the hospitality industry and the fans' experience during the tournament.
