Warning strikes in Aachen: confectionery industry is fighting for fair wages

Warning strikes in Aachen: confectionery industry is fighting for fair wages

A collective bargaining dispute in the confectionery industry causes unrest in the Aachen region. A wave of warning strikes will be expected next Wednesday, July 24, in which prominent companies such as Lindt and Lambertz are also affected. This mobilization is organized by the Food Guard Center (NGG) union, which urges a substantial wage increase and has announced a "stink acid sweet protest".

The background of the strike

The NGG demands an increase in wages by 9.9 percent for one year, which would be significant income improvement, especially for the employees of the confectionery industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. "That is at least 360 euros more per month for employees," explains Tim Lösch from the NGG Aachen.

affected companies and participation

A total of five companies in the region, including the EIS producer Bon Gelati and the snack manufacturer Solent, have set their production during the warning strike. The effects will be great: "There will be no chocolate, no praline, no cookies and no snack off the assembly line," announced Lösch.

rally and demonstration

In addition, a central demonstration will take place on Bendplatz in Aachen on Wednesday from 3 p.m., in which over 1000 employees will move through the city to support their demands. The speakers include Anja Weber, the DGB boss of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Isabell Mura, Vice Chair of the NGG NRW.

dissatisfaction with previous negotiations

The dissatisfaction with regard to the negotiation results is great. The union criticized that employers made "no useful offer" in the conversations. The initial negotiating process was dismissed by the NGG as a "placebo meeting" because it brought little progress for the employees.

outlook on future measures

If nothing concrete is achieved at the next round of negotiations in early September, the NGG plans to expand the warning strikes. "If the employers want it to hurt, it will hurt. And really really," said Lösch. So the union has not yet spoken the last word and plans to further strengthen its efforts.

This collective bargaining dispute could not only be important for the directly involved companies, but also for other industries in the region that are affected by similar challenges in the field of working conditions and wages. The developments here could therefore be pioneering for future negotiations in the entire industry.

- Nag