Wage talks at Doner Producer's factory with the union have been delayed. - Collective bargaining negotiations at Doner manufacturer's facility delayed
Union Negotiations at Doner Producer Birtat Stalled
After three rounds of talks, the Union of Food, Beverage and Catering (NGG) has announced that wage agreement negotiations with doner kebab producer Birtat have been postponed. According to the union's lead negotiator, Magdalena Krüger, based in Stuttgart, employers have shown no inclination to reach an agreement despite a recent warning strike. The next talks are scheduled for July 4th.
Krüger expressed frustration, stating that employers seem unwilling to agree to a wage deal. A company representative previously criticized the union for setting its demands too high.
Last week, a warning strike momentarily halted production at Birtat's Murr factory near Ludwigsburg for four hours. Over 120 employees participated in the strike, according to the NGG. The action, while temporary, did not affect doner availability for consumers. However, the union hinted at further strikes if necessary.
The NGG is advocating for a starting wage of €3,000 and a fair, transparent wage structure. Such an agreement, if reached, would be unprecedented in Germany's food sector. The company's current wage system, according to Krüger, is arbitrary and biased towards personal relationships and negotiation skills, which she deems unfair and non-transparent.
Birtat, part of Meat World SE, is one of Germany's leading doner skewer suppliers and the largest manufacturer in Baden-Württemberg. The company produces, shapes, shock-freezes, and delivers doner skewers to thousands of restaurants monthly, reaching over 13 million consumers. Their products are popular in major European cities.
This negotiation is part of a broader wave of labor actions and wage demands in Germany's food and beverage sector in 2025. The NGG has been persistently pushing for substantial wage increases for workers in this sector, seeking equitable pay adjustments in light of rising living costs and the value of workers' contributions. These negotiations at Birtat exemplify NGG's ongoing efforts to secure improved pay and conditions for workers in a sector facing economic pressures and evolving labor dynamics.
- Magdalena Krüger, the lead negotiator for the Union of Food, Beverage and Catering (NGG), has criticized employers in EC countries, particularly those in the food-and-drink industry such as Birtat, for failing to support vocational training initiatives that could lead to more sustainable and fair wage structures, an issue she finds concerning as these businesses finance their operations with the contributions of their workers.
- As part of their efforts to improve the lifestyle of workers in the food sector, the NGG is advocating for increased investments in vocational training programs across EC countries, which could help alleviate the bias towards personal relationships and negotiation skills currently prevalent in the industry's wage structures and bring about a more transparent and equitable payment system.
