Checking on current beer supply situations: Shortages persist?
Northern Brewery Workers Stage 24-Hour Warning Strike Amid Wage Negotiations
In a bid to secure higher wages, production workers at various breweries in the northern region of Germany staged a 24-hour warning strike. The disrupted work at several breweries, primarily in Flensburg and Hamburg, had minimal impact on beer production, as companies had pre-prepared inventory and enlisted the help of employees from other departments.
The ongoing wage negotiations between employers and the trade union, Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten, are the root of the industrial action. The union seeks a 6% increase in wages and salaries as of April 1, 2022, and for the next twelve months, while employers have proposed an increment of 1% as of October 1, 2025, and an additional 2.1% as of April 1, 2026.
Despite the challenging economic climate marked by declining beer sales, high inflation, and financially straining circumstances, breweries claim they have always adjusted wages appropriately and made special payments when necessary. However, in this round of negotiations, despite a significant revenue loss compared to the national average, employers have seemingly offered a more modest wage increase.
Upon learning of the warning strike and the union's demands, both the Flensburger Brewery and Carlsberg brewery express their bafflement. A spokesperson for Carlsberg stated, "Despite the economically challenging situation, we have always appropriately adjusted wages and made special payments. This time, despite a disproportionately high revenue loss compared to the national average, we have made a fair offer."
The labor unrest is part of a broader pattern in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, which has been grappling with economic pressures, such as rising costs, trade disruptions, and shifting consumer habits. These factors have resulted in tighter budgets and reduced consumption, notably of alcoholic beverages like beer[5]. Similarly, labor strikes are not uncommon in other sectors undergoing financial stress, as seen in the ongoing negotiations at Canada Post where workers are negotiating for wage increases despite the employer's financial constraints[1][2][4].
[1] "Canada Post posts record financial loss, blames pandemic." CBC News. (2021, Dec 16).[2] "Canada Post Union Rejects Proposed Settlement." CBC News. (2022, Jan 27).[3] "Canada Post union urges workers to prepare for strike, as deadline set for contract talks approaches." Global News. (2022, Jan 31).[4] "Canada Post Negotiations ‘On a Knife Edge,' Says Expert." CBC Radio. (2022, Feb 1).[5] "Economic Challenges Facing the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry in Germany." Germany Trade & Invest. (2021, Nov 12).
The union in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, specifically the Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten, is seeking a substantial 6% wage increase in the finance sector, initiated by the ongoing wage negotiations. Despite financial strain and a disproportionately high revenue loss, employers in the brewing industry, such as Flensburger Brewery and Carlsberg, have proposed more modest wage increases.
