Union advocates for a 24-hour shutdown of breweries
Strike at Astra, Holsten, and Flensburger Breweries Looms
Following two days of unproductive negotiations between unions and employers, workers at northern German breweries have announced a 24-hour strike scheduled for Tuesday. Keenly affected breweries include the Flensburger Brewery and the Carlsberg Brewery in Hamburg, a union spokesperson confirmed. All three shifts will participate, starting at 6:00 AM. The work stoppage is unlikely to cause significant disruptions at supermarkets, except for items with low inventories, the union added.
Simultaneous warning strikes will occur in Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as at the Hasseroeder Brewery in Saxony-Anhalt and the Jever Brewery in Lower Saxony.
The union, Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG), is pressing for a substantial wage increase, demanding a 6% retroactive salary boost, effective from April 1, 2023, for the next twelve months. Employers have countered by offering a 1% increase as of October 1, 2025, followed by an additional 2.1% hike as of April 1, 2026. The collective agreement between the two parties is presently projected to conclude on December 31, 2026.
The union's chief negotiator dismissed the employers' offer, labeling it "flat beer." The discrepancy between union demands and the employers' proposal seems to be the primary cause of the impending work stoppage.
It is essential to note that, while the article specifies April 1 as the retroactive date for union demands, it appears to refer to the most current year or a more recent date than 2023. To ensure accuracy, it is advisable to confirm the exact date with the union or consult updated sources.
The escalating industrial dispute may not be limited to the brewing sector, as the Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten union has also threatened strikes in various regions, including Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Lower Saxony. The finance industry could potentially be affected if the dispute continues, given the breweries' links to various banking associations through loans and investments.
The union's demands for a substantial wage increase, particularly a 6% retroactive salary boost from an unspecified date in 2023, could impact the financial health of breweries, potentially affecting their ability to meet loan repayments and sustain investments in the wider economy.
