After weeks of mobilising and more than 20 strikes, NGG succeeded to get employers´ organisations in the German meat industry back to the negotiating table, while increasing trade union membership.
Trade unions and employers struck a deal on a nationwide minimum wage, that covers the entire meat industry and its 160.000 workers.
The pathway to a higher minimum wage demanded by the unions, will start with 10,80 € per hour in August 2021; it will rise to 11€ in January 2022, and to 11,50€ in December 2022, to finally reach 12,30 € in December 2023.
The new measure will impact directly several thousand workers, particularly as many in the sector are still paid the current national statutory minimum wage at 9,60€/hour. For several thousands more, companies will have to negotiate a new pay scale, because the newly negotiated sectoral minimum wage will exceed considerably the existing wages that already apply at company level over the coming three years.
In total, NGG managed to reach a 28 % pay rise.
Following the adoption of the Arbeitsschutzkontrollgesetz, the German law on the meat sector that entered into force on 1 January 2021 (see EFFAT article), this new collective agreement represents another NGG major victory. Nevertheless, as the sector still faces many challenges, EFFAT welcomes the decision to negotiate an additional collective agreement on further issues including paid leave, annual bonus, extra pay for overtime and night shifts.
The German meat sector has been a source of social dumping and unfair competition for decades. This agreement is a great news for all meat workers in Europe. While applauding this result, EFFAT remains combative. The fight for better conditions in the meat industry is not over until a EU coordinated response will address the plagues of the sector across Europe.
EFFAT’s 10 demands for action at EU level [Link]
