In the upcoming wage negotiations for metal and electrical workers, IG Metall is pushing for a simple demand. Shorter working hours will play only a minor role.
IG Metall has set its wage demand for the German metal and electrical industry at seven percent more money. For trainees, the union is demanding a disproportionately high fixed amount of 170 euros more per month, as First Chairwoman Christiane Benner explained after a board meeting in Essen. This is intended to strengthen purchasing power and support the economy.
The largest German collective agreement, which employs around 3.9 million people, also covers the key industrial sectors of automobiles, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. According to IG Metall, the first regional negotiations will take place in mid-September. The current wage agreement has been terminated on September 30, and the peace obligation ends on October 28. After that, warning strikes are possible.
Still high cost of living
Benner justifies the demand, which is calculated to run for twelve months, with the continuing high cost of living. According to a statement, she says: “The increases and one-off payments from the last collective agreement have been used up. Now the employees have earned a reliable, permanent compensation of seven percent more money.”
Employers, on the other hand, do not see much financial leeway and warn of deindustrialization. Gesamtmetall President Stefan Wolf criticizes the level of the demand: In the past 30 years, IG Metall has only made a higher demand once. The collective bargaining parties must also do their part to strengthen the location and at the same time urge politicians to reform. “To drive up labor costs to the extent that IG Metall envisions would mean the opposite of that,” says Wolf.
According to the union, another topic of the negotiations will be the collectively agreed leave of absence. Up to now, employees with children, care responsibilities or shift work can apply for up to eight additional days off per year and do not receive any additional pay. IG Metall would like to extend this option to other employees.
Source: Stern
