IUF affiliate NGG has started negotiations with meat industry employers in a determined effort to win better wages and conditions for 160,000 workers through a collective bargaining agreement; however, negotiations have now reached a stalemate.
- The union is proposing a three tier wage structure: a commencement rate of 12.50 EUR per hour, 14 EUR per hour after a short training period and 17 EUR per hour for skilled workers while the industry’s wage offer is 10 EUR per hour
- NGG has organized actions in front of the factory gates of companies with warning strikes planned in the next stage of the bargaining campaign
- In January, a new law took effect in Germany banning subcontracting in the meat sector. From April 1, the law restricts the number of temporary workers to 8 % of the workforce, and temporary workers can only be employed in enterprises with more than 50 workers if employment is regulated by a collective bargaining agreement
- Meanwhile one of the largest meat sector employers in Germany, Tönnies, is preparing to sell their business for approximately 4 billion EUR, most likely to one of the global giants, JBS, Tyson or WH Group
As NGG Deputy Chairman Freddy Adjan said, “The employers want to cement low wages for years to come. Employees quite rightly expect much more. The employers must clearly step up and show that they really want to put an end to the exploitation and the scandals that have been going on for years. There will be no cheap labor agreement with us.”
