German Gate Gourmet strikers end dispute

Workers for the airline catering firm Gate Gourmet in Germany last month settled their dispute with the company, which broke out last October when it tried to worsen conditions and reduce pay for workers at Düsseldorf airport.

The settlement, which the union’s chief negotiator Dieter Schormann described as “neither a victory nor a defeat” provides for a 1% pay increase in both 2006 and 2007, as well as one-off payments of €156 net (£108) in both years.

Working time is increased from 38 to 40 hours a week, although from 2009 it goes back to 39.

In return additional free shifts are being introduced for those doing particularly arduous work and employees have greater flexibility in when they work.

There is also a no-redundancy guarantee until the start of 2009.

As in the similar dispute in the UK, the company appeared to be on the verge of settling earlier in the dispute, before pulling out of the deal (see Labour Research, January 2006).

The settlement, which was backed by 61% of the around 80 employees involved, ends the longest dispute in the history of the NGG food and hospitality union.

Schormann said: “We are proud of this workforce and we thank all those who have supported us during this unusual industrial conflict.”