More wages for employees: tariff in the food industry!

More wages for employees: tariff in the food industry!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, more wages are being filed, and it seems that a wreath of negotiations in the food industry has finally been tied up in the food industry. After tough rounds and some warning strikes, such as in the Lübz brewery and the Schwerin Nestlé plant, employers and the NGG union were able to agree on a tariff. This agreement not only brings more money, but also better working conditions for the employees. will increase, which is particularly important for the approximately 2100 employees in the fruit and vegetable industry.

The new regulations are no coincidence. Affected companies such as Dr. Oetker in Wittenburg and Nestlé in Schwerin can prepare for certain changes. The vacation public is raised from ten to just under 16 euros. Apprentices can look forward to a repayment of 75 euros more per month, and this regulation also brings additional money into the pockets of the young people. Collective agreement is valid by March 31, 2027, which creates planning security for employees.

In the case of wage increases, it will be exciting three times. From July 1, 2025, wages will increase by 3 %, followed by a further increase of 2.5 % from April 1, 2026. And as an icing on the cake in September 2026 there will be another 20 euros extra for all employees. also the tariff database also testifies that such regular adjustments are quite new for the industry and represent a meaningful step towards the fair payment.

It is particularly gratifying that even trainees do not go away empty: In addition to the 75 euros more per month from June 2025, you will also expect further salary increases from the coming year. A special regulation also enables you to take a free day before the final exam - according to the motto: a little time out must be!

The union's assessments are mixed. Although a compromise has been achieved, which does better workers, it remains a drop of bitterness: the NGG criticizes the employers who want to consolidate a persistently low wage in the east. Ultimately, it is important to continue working on a fair work design and to strengthen the rights of workers, as the last strikes have shown impressively.

A look at the entirety of the new wage increases shows that in the next 24 months employees and trainees can benefit from an increase of around 6.2 %. This is an important step for more justice in the wage structure of the industry and also promises for the future that such tariff degrees can have a sustainable effect.