Historic pay deal for Germany’s doner kebab workers

Doner kebab meat workers in Germany were Friday savouring the industry's first ever union-backed pay deal that ended a long dispute at a major supplier of the hugely popular snack. Workers at the factory run by the Birtat company, one of Germany's biggest in the sector, supplying some 13 million businesses a month, had been pushing for improved salaries and had staged several walkouts. 

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They complained that they were not paid enough for the hard work, which involves marinating veal, chicken and turkey and putting it on skewers in cold temperatures, according to a report in financial weekly WirftschaftsWoche. The long-running dispute at the plant in Murr, southwest Germany, was finally settled Friday when a deal was agreed with management, according to the NGG food, beverages and catering union.

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The union hailed the pay deal as the "first collective bargaining agreement in the kebab meat industry," adding that it "marks the beginning of an important chapter in labour relations". "We are convinced that this collective agreement sends an important signal to our employees, expressing our appreciation for their hard work and dedication," added Cihan Karaman, a spokesman for Meat World SE, the parent company of Birtat.

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The agreement sets the starting monthly salary at 2,600 euros ($3,300), with increases to be implemented by the end of 2026, the NGG said. In addition, the union and employer agreed to raise wages in two stages by a total of up to 17 percent at the top end for a term ending at the end of 2026. It covers about 120 workers, according to news outlet Der Spiegel.

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Meat World SE press spokesman Cihan Karaman said the collective agreement was “an important signal to our employees to express our appreciation for their hard work and good performance.” The collective agreement creates planning security and strengthens trust and cooperation between the company and its employees.

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The humble doner, made with thinly sliced meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, has its origins in Turkey but is beloved in Germany after being introduced there by Turkish migrants.

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