Pioneering the Industry's Frontier
In the heart of Germany's Swabian region, the Döner factory Birtat, a leading manufacturer of Döner skewers, has made headlines due to a historic collective bargaining agreement. This agreement, the first of its kind in the Döner meat industry, will apply to Birtat's employees and marks a significant step forward in securing fair wages and improved working conditions.
The labor dispute at Birtat, owned by Meat World SE, one of the largest Döner skewer manufacturers in Baden-Württemberg and a leading supplier in Germany, has been ongoing since early 2025. Workers, primarily immigrants from Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria, have been advocating for a collective bargaining agreement to standardise wages and enhance transparency. Their demands include a monthly wage increase of €375, a uniform entry-level salary of €3,000, and a company-wide collective pay agreement.
Negotiations between the union, the Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG), and Meat World SE (Birtat) have been challenging, with four rounds of stalled discussions and the company's management refusing to accede to the employees' demands. As a result, over 115 employees have engaged in multiple labor actions, including ten warning strikes and a five-day full strike.
However, after months of tense negotiations, both parties have reached an agreement. This agreement includes wage increases in two stages, totalling up to 17 percent at the top, and the establishment of a collective bargaining agreement. The employees at Birtat are delighted with the news, expressing their satisfaction with the improved pay conditions.
The impact of this agreement extends beyond Birtat's workforce. With approximately 400 Döner producers in Germany, according to the Association of Doner Producers, the success of this collective bargaining agreement could pave the way for similar agreements in other companies within the industry.
Birtat's products are a staple in fast food outlets across Germany and Europe, reaching over 13 million consumers monthly. The company's spokesperson confirmed that their products can be tasted in almost every major city in Europe. This agreement, therefore, not only benefits the workers at Birtat but also the countless consumers who enjoy their Döner kebabs.
The union NGG, having secured this agreement, hopes to enforce collective bargaining regulations in other companies in the future, ensuring fair wages and working conditions become the norm across the Döner meat industry. This landmark agreement underscores the critical role of collective bargaining in securing fair wages and working conditions for workers in the industry.
- The historic collective bargaining agreement at Birtat, a leading Döner skewer manufacturer, could set a precedent for other finance-driven businesses in the retail sector, such as fast-food outlets, as the union hopes to enforce similar regulations.
- This monumental agreement between the union and Meat World SE, a crucial player in the Döner meat industry, promises to improve the industry's entire business landscape by raising standards for fair wages and working conditions.
