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

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

Something is currently happening in the German agricultural industry: The Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt industrial union (IG BAU) has called for a warning strike at Deutsche Saatveredlung AG (DSV) for July 14th and 15th, 2025. All five of the company's locations are affected, including Lippstadt and Leutewitz near Meißen. The employees want to put pressure on company management for their demands. According to MDR, there have been several industrial disputes since the end of March that led to this strike action.

A look at IG BAU's demands shows what is important to the employees: They demand the introduction of a uniform company collective agreement and a monthly wage increase of 350 euros. In addition, they are advocating for three additional vacation days for union members and want previous company benefits to be stipulated in the contract. However, the DSV leadership has so far refused to hold talks and is apparently trying to intimidate the employees with individual letters, which the union sees as an attack on the constitutionally guaranteed right to strike, as verbandsbuero.de reports.

Background and numbers

The discussion about collective agreements is becoming increasingly important because while collective bargaining in Germany has declined in recent years in both West Germany and East Germany, there is a clear trend towards the revival of collective bargaining. Since 2000, the level of coverage has fallen from 67% to 54%, and only around 20% of employees are unionized (bpb.de).

What can you do?

This makes it all the more important that employees raise their voices. On Monday and Tuesday, 15 employees from Saxony will go to the strike rally in Lippstadt to show their support for the movement. It is a sign of workers' growing determination to stand up for their rights and a fair working environment. The course of this warning strike could be groundbreaking – both for the DSV and for the entire agricultural industry.

It can therefore be hoped that employers will change their attitude and respond to the legitimate demands of their employees. Ultimately, it is a win-win situation: Better working conditions not only lead to happier employees, but also to more stable company structures and long-term success.