Wage Dispute: Strike Called at Europe's Largest Pretzel Bakery, Ditsch

The German food, beverage, and hospitality union NGG has called for a 40-hour warning strike at the large bakery Ditsch in Oranienbaum, amid an ongoing wage dispute in the food industry. The strike is set to commence at 2 p.m. on Thursday and continue until Saturday morning, according to a union announcement.

This action follows a vote where 88% of surveyed union members at Ditsch rejected the employer's latest offer. The NGG union is specifically protesting a wage disparity between East and West Germany, which they claim ranges from 20% to 30% compared to comparable collective bargaining areas. This dispute has already led to warning strikes at several companies in Saxony-Anhalt, accumulating approximately 2,500 strike hours collectively.

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The wage gap to comparable collective bargaining areas is 20 to 30 percent.

Earlier in June, a significant portion of Ditsch employees participated in a 24-hour work stoppage prior to the last round of negotiations. The employers' association, representing the food industry, stated in May that their offer represented the limit of what was economically feasible. They also indicated a commitment to gradually reduce the wage gap in Saxony-Anhalt, aiming for full equalization within eight years.

Ditsch, which belongs to the Swiss Valora Group, identifies itself as the world market leader in baked goods. The company operates production facilities in Germany at Mainz and Oranienbaum. The NGG union's call for a strike highlights the persistent challenges in achieving wage parity across different regions of Germany.

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The remaining wage gap between Saxony-Anhalt and the West will be reduced step by step, with full equalization achieved by eight years at the latest.