“We are worth more” was the slogan that front-lined collective negotiations between the food and catering union NGG and management at Coca Cola Erfrischungsgetränk AG (CEE), which manages the production and distribution of the American drinks group. Talks concluded on March 20 with agreements on four issues, wages, progressive early retirement, working time, and the future restructuring for the company. Wages will rise in two steps (+3.2% in 2015 and +2.5% in 2016). The company’s 9,700 employees will be able to, for the first time, avail of the ‘right’ to progressive early retirement provision (Altersteilzeit) from age 59. The social partners also agreed on a set of social measures aimed at softening the effects of redundancies due to economic reasons that will occur during the company’s forthcoming restructuring.
Fewer employees. NGG spokesperson Jonas Bohl when interviewed by Planet Labor indicated that collective negotiations had taken place within a difficult context because the company had a clear policy line it wished to pursue: reducing the number of employee. Coca Cola Erfrischungsgetränk has decided to let go of the returnable bottles business and concentrate on single use plastic bottles.
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