German trade union NGG is preparing strike action at two domestic Intersnack plants over a pay dispute.

According to the NGG, staff at Intersnack’s Grevenbroich-Wevelinghoven site have been lined up for a 24-hour stoppage starting at 10pm today (28 July).

The move in Grevenbroich comes after an earlier walkout planned for 27 July was postponed.

Meanwhile, at an Intersnack site in Schwerte, workers are due to stage a 24-hour “warning strike” from 6am local time tomorrow.

The union said the action would halt production at both facilities.

In Schwerte, NGG said no Flips or Ültje peanuts would come off the lines during the stoppage. At Grevenbroich, production of brands including Ringlis and Jumpys would be affected, it added.

The Schwerte plant employs just under 350 people, while the Grevenbroich site has just under 450 staff, according to NGG.

The planned walkouts follow what the union described as a “frustrating” pay offer from employers in the confectionery industry of 2% more pay and a one-off payment of €156 ($177.2).

Samir Boudih, NGG Dortmund union secretary, said: “That is not an offer. It is a farce."

Ina Korte-Grimberg, the managing director of NGG Krefeld-Neuss, struck a similar tone, saying it was “high time” for employers to make a viable offer after weeks without an acceptable proposal.

NGG is holding to its demand for a 5.8% wage increase, or at least €230 more per month, with a 12-month term.

The union said a third round of talks ended without result.

Protest rallies are planned outside both factories on 29 July.

Intersnack declined to comment when approached by Just Food yesterday.

The action comes ahead of the next round of negotiations with Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry on 13 August, covering around 17,000 sector workers in North Rhine-Westphalia.

NGG said if the talks fail to deliver tangible progress, warning strikes across the industry will be expanded.

Last week, Intersnack announced plans to take US snacks company Utz Brands private. 

In a joint statement issued on 21 July, the companies said the transaction valued Utz at around $2.9bn. 

Once the transaction is completed, the family shareholders of New York-listed Utz Brands, the Rice and Lissette families, will hold 50%, with Intersnack owning the balance. 

Intersnack is itself a family-owned private company and recorded sales of roughly $5bn last year.