Strike at seed refinement: workers demand 350 euros more and vacation!

Strike at seed refinement: workers demand 350 euros more and vacation!

In the German agricultural economy, something is currently happening: The industrial union building-Agrar-Umwelt (IG Bau) has proclaimed a warning strike at Deutsche SaatDedlung AG (DSV) for July 14th and 15th, 2025. All five locations of the company are affected, including Lippstadt and Menschenwitz near Meißen. The employees want to put pressure on corporate management for their demands. According to MDR, there have been several labor strikes since the end of March.

A look at the claims of IG Bau shows what is important to the employees: They demand the introduction of a uniform house collective agreement and a monthly wage increase of 350 euros. In addition, they are committed to three additional vacation days for union members and want the previous operational services to be laid down in the contract. However, the DSV leadership has previously refused talks and is apparently trying to intimidate the employees with individual letters, which is evaluated by the union as an attack on the constitutionally guaranteed strike law, such as associationsbuero.de reports.

background and numbers

The discussion about collective agreements is increasing, because while the collective bargaining in Germany has decreased in recent years both in West Germany and East Germany, there is a clear trend towards reviving collective bargaining. Since 2000, the degree of coverage has dropped from 67% to 54%, and only about 20% of the employees have been organized in trade (bpb.de.

what can you do?

It is all the more important that the employees raise their voice. On Monday and Tuesday, 15 employees from Saxony will drive to the strike rally in Lippstadt to show their support for the movement. It is a sign of the growing determination of the employees to stand up for their rights and a fair work environment. The course of this warning strike could be groundbreaking - both for the DSV and for the entire agricultural industry.

Therefore, it remains to be hoped that employers will change their attitude and react to the legitimate claims of their employees. In the end, it is a win-win situation: better working conditions not only lead to more satisfied employees, but also to more stable corporate structures and long-term success.