Kölln workers to strike at oat-flake maker in wage dispute

Workers at Kölln’s oat-flake production site in Elmshorn have been called to a warning strike in the first such action at the company’s headquarters. The walkout is scheduled to run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a rally planned outside the plant at 1:30 p.m.

The Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten union, known as NGG, is negotiating a new company wage agreement for more than 160 production employees. It is demanding a 5.8% pay increase and a contract lasting one year.

NGG said Kölln’s initial offer was insufficient because it did not compensate for inflation. Negotiations with the family-owned food company are due to resume on Thursday. Union negotiator Sarah Witte said she expected parts of production to stop, but considered an impact on supermarket supplies unlikely.

Kölln said it had offered production workers an overall 4% wage increase in two stages over two years. A company spokeswoman said the business had taken measures to keep the strike’s impact on production as low as possible.

Kölln employs about 360 people, according to the company. Friederike Driftmann has led the business in its seventh generation since May 2024. Kölln reported annual revenue of 154 million euros in 2024, with no more recent figures available.

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I expect production to partly come to a standstill.