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Collective bargaining conflict at Frosta: Strike in Lommatzsch is imminent!
Collective bargaining conflict at Frosta in Lommatzsch escalates. Employees demand a 12% wage increase, threatening a 24-hour strike.
Collective bargaining conflict at Frosta: Strike in Lommatzsch is imminent!
In Lommatzsch near Frosta there is a risk of a first 24-hour strike because collective bargaining has stalled again. The conflict between the Food-Gourmet-Gastronomy Union (NGG) and the company came to a head after the third round of negotiations lasted just 20 minutes on Tuesday. The company side did not put forward a new offer and showed no interest in the union's compromise proposals. A wage increase of 12% is called for in order to equalize wages between East and West and to take the employees' living costs into account. Sächsische.de reports that a prolonged warning strike is looming, especially during the harvest season, which could have a major impact on production at the plant.
On June 11, around 220 employees took part in a four-hour warning strike to draw attention to the unfortunate situation. The NGG emphasizes that the workers in Lommatzsch produce the same products and do the same work as their colleagues in the Bremerhaven location, but who earn over 12% more. This reinforces the demand for equal pay for equal work, which is also supported by the NGG. Ost.NGG.net highlights that wage inequality has been a constant challenge for years.
Wage differences between East and West
Such wage disputes are part of a larger problem that is felt across the region: wages in eastern Germany remain lower than in the west. How Tagesschau.de reported, the income difference in 2023 averaged 824 euros gross per month, indicating a persistence in the wage gap that has existed for over 33 years after reunification. This imbalance contributes to strengthening the demands of the trade unions, which demand equal living conditions in East and West.
The Frosta company, which processes, among other things, peas with a production volume of around four tons per hour, is currently only offering a wage increase of 3.4% for 12 months. However, the NGG union has put forward a proposal that provides for a retroactive increase of 3.4% from April, as well as a further increase in November and a one-off payment of 156 euros for the month of March. However, Frosta couldn't do much with this suggestion and insists on his own tariff dictate.
The employees point to the sharp increase in the cost of living and make it clear that the company's current offers are inadequate. It remains to be seen whether there will be a breakthrough in the upcoming negotiations or whether workers will actually resort to a full-scale strike to assert their rights and demands.