Strike action at Carl Kühne: Grill sauce production comes to a standstill!

Strike action at Carl Kühne: Grill sauce production comes to a standstill!

In the sauce factory of Carl Kuehne A 24-hour strike began this morning in Berlin-Reinickendorf. Organized by the Food, Pleasure and Restaurants union (NGG), around 210 employees took part to put a lot of pressure on the stagnant collective bargaining dispute during the busy barbecue season. NGG wants to emphasize the demands for higher wages, as the existing offer from the company creates little incentive to accept the working conditions.

The employers' side originally discussed extending weekly working hours. However, this offer was withdrawn after the first warning strikes, which only further fueled the discontent of the workforce. Employers are offering wage increases that are below the current inflation rate and employees are determined not to accept a loss of purchasing power. “We are demanding a wage increase of seven percent or at least an increase of 241 euros per month,” explains Rebecca Rahe, NGG negotiator. These demands are aimed at reducing the gap to wages at the plant in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Barbecue season and strike actions

In the current collective bargaining dispute, employees are also demanding a withdrawal of the planned extension of working hours. There is currently a 38-hour week, and the NGG categorically rejects an extension and instead advocates a reduction in working hours. Protests with whistles have already been organized in front of the Kühne factory to draw attention to the grievances. Right now, at the beginning of the barbecue season, the popular barbecue sauces from the Berlin factory are in particular demand. This makes the situation appear even more explosive.

A look at the history of tariffs shows that there is a certain need for action. Facts about collective bargaining in Germany show that the proportion of companies subject to collective agreements has fallen sharply in recent years. This value fell from 48 percent in 2000 to just 29 percent in 2018. In western Germany, collective bargaining coverage was 70 percent, in the east it was 55 percent. This highlights the challenges that both sides have to overcome in the negotiations.

An outlook on the negotiations

The next negotiation between the NGG and Carl Kühne's management will take place on September 9th. The tensions are palpable and whether the negotiations will lead to an agreement remains to be seen. The affected employees rely on their solidarity and the support of the union in order to assert their legitimate interests. Whether the steak will soon be grilled without sauce depends not least on the upcoming negotiations.