Germans Grumble Over Döner Prices as Workers Strike

Workers at the Birtat Meat World SE factory in southwestern Germany have gone on strike again amid a salary dispute — sparking fears among some Germans that their most beloved street food, the spicy, juicy kebab in a pita, could get more expensive, or even worse, that the country could be heading toward a kebab shortage, Euronews reported.

For weeks, employees have staged repeated “warning strikes,” demanding wage increases of €375 per month. (Photo: Birtat)

While these fears may sound exaggerated, they are not entirely unfounded. Workers at one of Germany’s largest kebab factories are locked in a bitter and ongoing fight with their employer over wages and working conditions.

For weeks, employees have staged repeated “warning strikes,” demanding wage increases of €375 per month. Germans already complain that the meaty snack, once a cheap staple at €2.50 about two decades ago, now sells for €7 or more in most places.

Exact salary figures vary widely and have not been disclosed.

The Food, Beverages and Catering Union representing the workers says payment methods are non-transparent and that employees performing the same job are being paid vastly different amounts, according to German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 

Workers are also seeking to establish a collective contract agreement for all employees with union support.

Many of the factory’s workers are immigrants from Turkey, Romania, or Bulgaria. They endure long, grueling shifts in near-freezing conditions to keep the raw meat fresh.