Employees carried out a “warning strike” at the headquarters of Germany-based frozen-food group Frosta yesterday (21 May) in a bid to increase wages.
The walkout at the site in Bremerhaven lasted two hours, according to German trade union, Die Gewerkschaft Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG).
“A warning strike like this is a last warning to the employer. If the employer does not signal to give in, the employees are willing to extend the strike,” an NGG spokesperson told Just Food.
The Bremerhaven facility primarily focuses on the production of Frosta’s frozen fish and ready meals lines but also processes frozen vegetables, fruits and noodles. It is the company’s largest site.
Approximately 200 workers took part in the walkout, the NGG told local news broadcasters NDR and RTL Deutschland.
Employees are demanding a 12% increase for all 700 employees of the Bremerhaven plant under a 12-month contract, reported RTL. They are also said to have asked for trainees to be hired under a full-time contract.
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Frosta initially offered a 2.6% increase for 2024 and a 1.9% rise for next year, which workers have deemed too low an offer, said the NGG.
Speaking to Just Food, the NGG spokesperson said: “The strike this Tuesday was a small reminder to Frosta management: Given record profits in 2023, employees now expect a fair wage increase.“
Frosta did not respond to requests for comment at the time of writing.
The group booked €639m ($692m) in revenue in 2023, a 9.4% hike on the previous year. EBITDA also grew 25% to €68.6m.
Talks to settle on a new wage agreement are expected to take place on 27 May.
The frozen vegetables and meals processor employs 1,665 people across its production, and sales units in Germany, Italy, Hungary, Czechia, Austria, Romania, and Poland.
Frosta manufactures a range of frozen fruits, vegetable mixes, herbs, fish products and ready meals under its namesake brand and for private label. It sells to retail and foodservice across Europe.
