Collective bargaining at the kebab manufacturer Birtat: warning strike remains unsuccessful!

Collective bargaining at the kebab manufacturer Birtat: warning strike remains unsuccessful!

The current collective bargaining negotiations at the kebab producer Birtat have been postponed following a warning strike last week. This is what the daily menu reports. The next round of negotiations will take place on July 4th. Negotiator of the NGG union, Magdalena Krüger, explained that despite intensive discussions, no agreement was reached because the employers rejected the required collective agreement. The NGG requires a starting salary of 3,000 euros and a fair pay structure. A collective agreement in this industry would be a unique pilot project in Germany.

The warning strike, which brought production in Murr near Ludwigsburg to a standstill for four hours, was very well received: around 120 employees took part, without there being any restrictions for consumers. The NGG is already announcing further industrial action because it believes that remuneration in the industry is often arbitrary and dependent on personal relationships. Birtat, the largest manufacturer of kebab skewers in Baden-Württemberg, is part of Meat World SE and supplies several thousand kebab restaurants, meaning their decisions can have far-reaching consequences.

Warning strikes in the catering sector

The situation is not only tense at Birtat. The NGG has also announced warning strikes at other large restaurant chains such as McDonald's, Burger King and Nordsee. These demands come in a context in which unions are trying to compensate for real wage losses as a result of the high inflation of recent years. These negotiations in particular show that employers have not made any concessions, which has led the union to make strike preparations.

The NGG negotiator, Baumeister, has called for a wage increase of 1.26 euros per hour by the end of 2028 as well as an increase in training remuneration. These measures are part of the extensive demands that are intended to improve conditions in the catering industry. The NGG advocates a starting wage of 15 euros per hour and a one-off payment for its members. The aim is to limit the term of the new collective agreement to 12 months.

Fight for better working conditions

Overall, 2024 was a difficult year for collective bargaining, particularly in conflict areas such as trade and aviation. While some sectors were able to successfully reach a joint collective agreement, the conflict intensity of the negotiations was high, reaching an average of 2.9 on a scale of 7 in Germany. This shows that in many cases employers and unions cannot reach a common denominator.

The challenges in the economy have further exacerbated the situation. Employers are facing serious challenges to their business model, further complicating negotiations. In addition, a decline in collective bargaining is expected in 2025, which could potentially lead to quieter negotiations - provided demands for higher wages and better working conditions do not escalate further.