Union reaches pay deal at Birtat kebab factory - Labor union reaches agreement with Dönerfabrik Birtat on collective bargaining terms
Historic Wage Agreement Reached at Birtat Doner Factory
In a significant development for the doner meat industry, the Food, Beverages, and Catering Union (NGG) and Meat World SE's Birtat factory in Murr near Ludwigsburg, Germany, have reached a landmark collective bargaining agreement. This agreement, concluded in August 2025, marks the first union-backed wage deal in the döner kebab meat sector.
The agreement establishes a starting monthly salary of €2,600 gross for approximately 120 workers at the Birtat factory. This factory, a major supplier serving around 13 million businesses monthly in Germany, produces marinated and skewered veal, chicken, and turkey meat used nationwide.
Meat World SE, the company behind Birtat, has yet to make a direct statement regarding the agreement. However, the company has been reported to have highlighted that the agreement expresses appreciation for the workers' hard work and dedication.
The agreement comes after a protracted labor dispute involving strikes and demands for fair wages and pay transparency among predominantly immigrant workers from Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria, who work under difficult conditions, including cold temperatures required to keep the meat fresh.
Key details of the agreement include:
- A starting gross salary of €2,600 per month (approximately $3,300)
- Coverage for approximately 120 workers at the Birtat factory
- Scheduled wage increases to be implemented by the end of 2026
- A two-stage wage increase of up to 17 percent
This resolution is seen as a landmark labor victory that may serve as a precedent for further organization and wage improvements in an industry with historically opaque and low pay. The agreement is expected to alleviate concerns over potential closures, wage disparities, and price hikes for the popular döner kebab street food in Germany.
Sources: [1] The Guardian [2] Deutsche Welle [3] Spiegel Online
- The historic wage agreement between the Food, Beverages, and Catering Union and Meat World SE's Birtat factory, a key player within the EC countries' manufacturing industry, particularly the doner meat sector, offers a significant boost in employment remuneration for approximately 120 Blue Collar workers, most of whom are immigrants from Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria.
- With its focus on finance, this agreement presents a positive shift in the business environment for the doner kebab industry, as it seeks to address longstanding issues of pay transparency and wage disparities, positioning the industry towards a more equitable and sustainable future.
