Döner alarm in Murr: First strike at Birtat for fair wages!

Döner alarm in Murr: First strike at Birtat for fair wages!

In a significant step for the employees of the kebab manufacturer Birtat in Murr near Ludwigsburg, the first strike in the company's history took place on May 28, 2025. The background to the warning strike, which lasted four hours, is the failed collective bargaining negotiations between the Food, Pleasure and Restaurants union (NGG) and the employers' side, which were postponed on May 27th without any result. A new trial date is scheduled for July 4th. The NGG negotiator Magdalena Krüger expressed disappointment with the employer side, which had withdrawn previous commitments. A collective agreement was rejected, and instead the employers proposed a solution without the union, which the NGG described as a “poisoned offer” and rejected it. ludwigsburg24.com reports that the union plans to continue discussions with staff and may consider further strikes and a possible strike vote.

Birtat is considered the largest manufacturer of kebab skewers in Baden-Württemberg and supplies several thousand kebab restaurants across Europe, reaching over 13 million consumers every month. The company, which belongs to Meat World SE, employs almost 115 people. Employees express dissatisfaction with the current pay structure, which is described as “completely arbitrary”. This is based heavily on personal relationships and individual negotiation skills. The NGG calls for a starting salary of 3,000 euros as well as a fair, transparent pay structure in order to create a nationwide, unique collective agreement as an “absolute pilot project”. tagesschau.de notes that a works council was founded last year, which strengthens the organization and representation of employees in companies like Birtat.

Context of collective bargaining

In general, collective bargaining in Germany often takes place through several rounds of negotiations, which are coordinated between the unions and employers' associations. A negotiating commission made up of elected members is formed to represent the interests of the employees. Demands are set before negotiations begin and the talks can be supported by warning strikes to put pressure on employers. In the event of failure, a strike vote on strike action can be requested, which is seen as a last resort by the unions igmetall.de.

The current conflict at Birtat shows how crucial clear and fair working conditions are for employees. NGG's determination and workforce mobilization could have a significant impact on the outcome of the July 4 negotiations. The situation remains tense and the coming weeks will be crucial for the future of the employees and the shaping of working relationships at Birtat.