BDSI engages with businesses in Bavaria, Germany, as employees seek improved terms
Production of pralines in a factory for the food industry - conveyor belt worker with chocolate
Germany’s BDSI confectionery organisation has joined with the Food, Pleasure and Restaurants Union (NGG) amid a process of collective bargaining with industry employees in Bavaria, over working conditions, writes Neill Barston.
According to the trade body, the process, which began in July, has seen ‘constructive discussions,’ with the move postponed by mutual consent, and is set to continue on 15 October.
Among main factors that confectionery sector workers have faced include higher energy, material and ingredients costs, that have placed an ongoing strain on many enterprises within the region.
“Unfortunately, an agreement was not yet possible today despite the convergence of both negotiating positions, particularly in terms of the duration and the associated planning security for companies and employees alike,” explains Dr. Mario Mundorf, managing director of collective bargaining policy at the BDSI. “On the part of employers, we are emphasising our serious desire to reach a collective agreement at the next negotiation date for the benefit of our workforce, but also our companies.
As the organisation noted, companies in the German confectionery industry stand firmly behind their employees, whose excellent work is of great importance. The BDSI therefore stresses the need for a fair and responsible negotiation result in the interests of stable employment relationships, which both recognises the performance of the employees and takes into account the economic situation of the companies.
“The main challenges for the companies include the increase in raw material, energy and logistics costs, in addition to the already high location-related burdens in Germany such as taxes, labor costs and bureaucracy.”
