Alert issued against Saxon breweries encountering potential issues - Alert sweeps through breweries across Saxony
In a significant development, employees at several breweries in Saxony and Thuringia, including Freiberger Brauhaus, Radeberger Brewery, Sternburg Brewery, and Krostitzer Brewery, have announced plans for warning strikes as part of ongoing wage negotiations. These breweries are all part of the Radeberger Group, the largest German brewing group.
The Union of Food, Beverage and Catering Workers (NGG) is demanding a seven percent increase in wages for the Saxony and Thuringia wage region. For trainees, the union is seeking an additional 100 euros. The employers have yet to make an offer in the negotiations.
Uwe Ledwig, the chief negotiator of the NGG, stated that the brewery employees are putting pressure on to ensure they don't get left behind. The union has expressed concerns that the current wage level is several hundred euros behind the nationally common brewing wages, amounting to over 4,000 euros a year without overtime.
The multi-day strikes, if they occur, would be a rare event in the Saxon brewing industry in recent decades. The four-hour strike in Saxony on June 27 affected the production and delivery capability of the breweries to restaurants and retailers.
Warning strikes are often used by unions to demonstrate their bargaining power and to pressure employers into accepting their demands. Strikes can also garner public support, which may influence employers to be more flexible in negotiations. However, the economic pressures imposed by strikes can also lead to concessions in wage negotiations.
In Saxony and Thuringia, the regional economic conditions and labor market dynamics can influence the effectiveness of warning strikes. If the labor market is tight, employees may have more bargaining power, which could lead to better outcomes in wage negotiations.
The next wage negotiation is scheduled for August 14. For specific details about the wage negotiation outcomes in these breweries, local news sources or union reports from August 2022 would be the best places to look.
- In light of the ongoing wage negotiations, the NGG is advocating for the community policy to include vocational training opportunities within the brewing industry, aiming to close the wage gap between Saxony and Thuringia and the nationally common brewing wages, potentially financing these initiatives through the Radeberger Group's resources.
- With the prospect of ongoing strikes, the NGG is exploring cost-effective vocational training programs as part of their community policy, aiming to ensure a skilled workforce for the brewing industry and foster long-term growth and competitiveness in the region.
