Following the strikes: Consensus Reached on Collective Bargaining Agreement at Döner Manufacturer Birtat in Murr
In a groundbreaking move, the doner meat producer Birtat in Murr, Ludwigsburg district, has secured a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the trade union Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG). This agreement, the first of its kind in the German doner meat industry, marks the end of a significant labor conflict and sets new standards for wages and worker rights.
The dispute, which began earlier in 2025, saw workers at Birtat demanding better wages and fair, transparent pay structures. The workers, many of them immigrants, protested against low and uneven salaries despite harsh working conditions, such as marinating meat in near-freezing temperatures. They staged several strikes and walkouts, calling for a standardized entry salary around €3,000 and an increase of about €375 monthly.
After months of negotiations between Birtat employers and the NGG, the historic CBA was announced in early August 2025. The deal, which was hailed as the industry’s first union-backed CBA, established a starting monthly salary of €2,600, rising by the end of 2026, and covers approximately 120 factory workers. The NGG lauded this deal as the start of a new chapter in labor relations within the sector.
The significance of the agreement is twofold. Firstly, it marks an important precedent for collective bargaining in a previously unorganized industry. Secondly, it may influence pricing in Germany’s popular doner kebab market, as increased labor costs could push retail prices beyond €10, a psychological threshold for many consumers.
Birtat’s management, via its parent company Meat World SE, expressed that the agreement sent an important signal of appreciation towards employees. Prior to the agreement, wage negotiations had seen multiple deadlocks, walkouts, and strikes, creating fears of supply shortages and significant price hikes for Germany’s beloved doner kebabs.
In summary, the doner meat industry in Germany now has its first CBA, specifically in the Birtat factory. This agreement, which was met with approval from both sides, marks a significant victory for the employees in the doner meat industry and sets a positive precedent for future labor relations in this sector.
| Aspect | Detail | |--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Industry background | No previous union-backed CBAs in doner meat sector in Germany until 2025. | | Company involved | Birtat Meat World SE, located in Murr, one of Germany’s largest doner meat producers. | | Labor dispute | Workers demanded pay raise (~€375/month), transparent pay, union contract; multiple strikes since early 2025. | | Settlement | Agreement reached August 2025; starting wage €2,600 monthly with raises through 2026; covers ~120 workers. | | Union involvement | NGG union negotiated and hailed the deal as historic and pioneering. | | Impact | Sets precedent for the industry; likely raises kebab retail prices; addresses immigrant workforce concerns. |
- The agreement between Birtat Meat World SE and the Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG) union, a first in the German doner meat industry, will have a significant impact on the industry's finance, as it sets new standards for wages and worker rights.
- The food-and-drink sector, including businesses dealing in popular dishes like doner kebabs, may experience alterations in pricing due to the increased labor costs resulting from the new collective bargaining agreement.
- This landmark event in the doner meat industry, marking the establishment of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), can be seen as an important step towards improved lifestyle conditions for workers within the food and drink industry sector.
