Oktoberfest without pretzels is like Thanksgiving without turkey. But nonetheless, that could very well be the sad state of affairs later this month in Germany when the 16-day orgy of beer and food kicks off.

Munich’s NGG gastronomy union, which represents the nearly 50,000 members of the Bavarian bakers’ guild, is demanding a 6.5% pay increase. And if that demand isn’t met, the union says it will strike, leaving the world's biggest suds celebration without one of its most sought-after beer munchies.

According to the Guardian, the union’s deputy regional president Mustafa Oz told German news magazine Focus that if negotiations continue to stall, “we'll strike in the bakeries. Then there will be a lack of pretzels and bread rolls at the Oktoberfest.”

And that will surely translate into a big Das Bummer for the six million-plus people from around the world who are expected to attend the festival.

Photo: Flickr user kalleboo