Confectionery industry workers in Northern Germany reach wage agreement

The German Confectionery Industry Association (BDSI) and the Food, Beverage and Catering Union (NGG) have reached a collective bargaining agreement for approximately 4,500 employees in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.

The agreement includes a multi-stage wage increase lasting 24 months until April 30, 2028. Wages will rise by 2.9 percent retroactively to June 1, followed by a 0.3 percent increase on November 1, 2026, and another 2.9 percent on June 1, 2027. Additionally, employees will receive two holiday allowances of 80 euros each in September 2026 and May 2027, with part-time workers receiving proportional amounts.

BDSI Managing Director Mario Mundorf noted that while the deal pushes companies to the limit of financial viability, the two-year term provides cost and planning security. NGG North District Chairman Finn Petersen described the agreement as sustainable but noted risks regarding inflation and expressed a preference for a shorter term.