The tariffs were last raised permanently in 2018. Added to this is the current inflation, which is eating away at wages. The IG Metall demands a strong increase. Criticism from employers follows promptly.
In view of the high inflation, IG Metall wants to demand 8 percent more money for employees in the metal and electrical industry in the forthcoming wage round.
Appropriate resolutions were passed by the wage commissions of the districts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, the Coast, Central and Baden-Württemberg on Thursday. The union is aiming for a term of twelve months. On July 11, the IG Metall board wants to decide on the final nationwide demand.
The collective wage agreements for the industry expire nationwide on September 30th. Warning strikes are possible after October 28. In Baden-Württemberg and Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, the collective bargaining partners have set September 14 as the first date for negotiations. An earlier date in the regions is not yet known.
Last permanent increase in 2018
“In view of the sharp rise in prices and the good order and earnings situation in many companies, employees expect a decent increase in their monthly wages,” said the district manager of IG Metall NRW, Knut Giesler.
He pointed out that the last permanent pay increase was in 2018. IG Metall acted responsibly in the collective bargaining round last year at the height of the corona pandemic and helped the industry get through the crisis well. “Now the companies have to show responsibility and protect the social security of the employees.”
The employers criticized the demand as too high. Many companies are under pressure due to delivery bottlenecks and high energy and raw material prices, said the chairman of Südwestmetall, Joachim Schulz. A tariff increase of eight percent is therefore “beyond all possibilities”. The President of the NRW Metal Association, Arndt Kirchhoff, warned that even a remote implementation of this requirement would overwhelm many companies and jeopardize numerous jobs.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
