Disruptions at Breweries Gaffel and Reissdorf: Unforeseen Disturbances Caused at These Establishments - Avertive action taken against breweries
In Cologne, a strike at the breweries Gaffel and Reissdorf led to a temporary halt in production on Friday. Around sixty employees, clad in high-vis vest attire, marched along the fence of the Gaffel brewery in Porz, creating a racket with whistles. Their banners bore phrases such as "No Us, No Beer" and "We demand: Recognition, Appreciation, Fair Wage Increase." The work action lasted three hours at Gaffel and four and a half hours at Reissdorf.
Union representative Marc Kissinger expressed satisfaction with the strike's participation. He reported that production at both locations had come to a standstill. Kissinger remains hopeful that the employers will present an improved offer during the next round of wage negotiations. The NGG union is insisting on a 6.6 percent wage increase, with full-time workers receiving at least an additional 280 euros per month. Employers are currently offering significantly less.
The NGG states that 130 people are employed at Gaffel in Cologne-Porz, and 90 at Reissdorf in Cologne-Rodenkirchen. The Reissdorf strikers joined the Gaffel rally. When asked if the sixty strikers were sufficient to disrupt production among a total of 210 employees, Kissinger noted that the overall workforce includes distribution and administrative roles. In the production shift, the proportion of strikers was remarkably high.
A Gaffel spokesperson presented a different view. Only a small percentage of the workforce participated in the strike at Gaffel, according to the spokesperson. "Cologne beer remains abundant," they said, assuring that stocks were well-stocked. The operations had not ceased, as a substantial part of the workforce opted not to participate in the strike, allowing production and delivery to continue uninterrupted.
In an effort to secure better compensation for brewery workers, the NGG union in Cologne is pressuring for a 6.6 percent wage increase as part of its labor actions, which include warning strikes targeted at improving wages in the food and beverage sector. This demand arises from the union's intention to address the current economic conditions and labor market challenges faced by employees in these breweries.
The NGG union's labor actions, including strikes, aim to impact various sectors, such as the manufacturing industry (brewery) and retail, as demonstrated by their actions at Gaffel and Reissdorf breweries. In the finance sector, the union's demand for a 6.6 percent wage increase, with full-time workers receiving an additional 280 euros per month, could have significant implications for the budgets of these breweries and potentially the overall employment policies within the industry.
