A period of conflict for the recognition of several benefits and salary increases ended up in an eight-day strike at the Nestlé Waters plant in Neuselters, after which a settlement was reached with the acceptance of all employees. With this union action the German food and allied workers union NGG forced Nestlé management to accept the existing collective agreements. Sirel interviewed NGG-president Franz-Josef Möllenberg

-How significant is this strike for the conflict between NGG and Nestlé?

-It´s very important. In Germany, in Europe and possibly everywhere in the world we have been observing that Nestlé has decided as a policy, to abandon or undermine collective bargaining and other additional agreements. We have been observing this tendency over the past two or three years. Until now we have been able to defend ourselves successfully, and therefore it was very important to send a clear message to the management that we are not prepared to accept their policy any more. Our colleagues at Neuselters have achieved an impressive success.

-The agreement will expire in 2009. Will that mean a return to industrial action?

-Yes, in theory. But let me assure you that we won´t sit back and wait. We´ll try to put the Nestlé management back on track. This means that we´ll use the two years ahead to persueade this company that Nestlé management must honor existing regional collective agreements. Should Nestlé refuse to do so, in two years time, they well receive the answer they deserve.

-How much support did workers on strike receive from colleagues in other unions, e.g. from Deutsche Telekom?

-Our colleagues at Deutsche Telekom are still in conflict. This is yet another case of worsening working conditions, and we were grateful for their support, just the same way we supported them before. This has been a very positive experience. We have been acting like this for decades and we will continue to support each other every time people need support during industrial action.

-What is your message to the IUF Latin American colleagues?

-We don´t have to accept everything. Strengthening the trade unions is crucial, because at the end of the day unions are the only force, which is able to improve the working and living conditions of the people.