Kitkat, gold bears, Leibniz biscuits: some treats could soon become scarce. The NGG union is calling for strikes. Haribo, Nestlé and other candy manufacturers are affected.
Hamburg – The threat of strikes in the confectionery industry shows that collective bargaining conflicts exist not only in the railways, but also in other industries. The trade union Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG) has not been able to enforce its own salary demands in previous negotiations and is therefore announcing further measures.
"Completely inadequate supply": strikes by Haribo and Co. announced for June
Already after the failed negotiations in April, the NGG union warned in a press release: The second round was "the last chance" for the Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) to meet the salary demands. According to the NGG, the opportunity was not used. They demand:
- For all employees in the German confectionery industry: 400 euros more per month
- For employees in the lower collective bargaining groups (A to E): 500 euros more per month
- For trainees: 200 euros more and a travel allowance of 50 euros per month
- A term of the new collective wage agreement of twelve months
In a recent NGG report, deputy union leader Freddy Adjan speaks of a "completely inadequate offer" in the second round of negotiations: "Without any calculation tricks, the employers are offering a wage increase of 3.8 percent in 2023 and 2.9 percent in 2024. As a result, they do not meet the expectations of the employees either in terms of amount or duration." In times of extreme price increases, the confectionery industry is not demanding "peanuts", but much more. From June, there is a threat of strikes by companies such as Nestlé and Haribo.
Warning strikes affect Haribo, Nestlé, Bahlsen and more – here's what consumers need to know now
Despite the effects of the Ukraine war, the confectionery industry increased production in 2022. Due to the announced wave of strikes, the opposite trend is emerging. Surprisingly, the BDSI had made it a matter of strikes, according to the NGG. And this despite the fact that it itself recently referred to a "tense situation" in the industry. Nestlé was able to further increase sales in the first quarter of 2023, but sales declines were observed at some other companies, according to the BDSI. The BDSI considers the warning strikes to be disproportionate and unfounded, according to a press release.
We will now push a strike wave the likes of which this industry has never experienced before.
Freddy Adjan
According to dpa information, nationwide work stoppages are planned from June. Companies such as Haribo, Bahlsen, Storck and Nestlé will then temporarily suspend their production. The already heated mood in the companies could thus be further exacerbated.
Still well filled: In the event of a warning strike, however, the goods of Haribo and Co. could become scarce. (Symbolic photo) © Imago
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Breaks in production do not leave consumers unscathed. They might then come across empty supermarket shelves and search in vain for their favorite sweets. It remains to be seen whether there will be further talks to avert the strike prematurely, as was recently the case with Deutsche Bahn.
Empty candy shelves in the supermarket? Haribo, Nestlé, Bahlsen and Co. affected by strikes
Instead of responding to the criticism of employees and the union as well as their salary demands, the BDSI blames politicians for the tense production conditions in a recently published report. "The Federal Government must give top priority to the consistent strengthening of the domestic economy, because only then can jobs, investments and value creation be secured in Germany in the long term," says Chairman Bastian Fassin. (Felina Wellner)