IG Metall will call for a warning strike in numerous metalworking companies from Tuesday. This is necessary to speed up the negotiations, says the responsible board member.
IG Metall is threatening the German metal and electrical industry with quick warning strikes starting next Tuesday (October 29). “Our colleagues in the companies have a great need to demonstrate to employers the seriousness of the situation. Warning strikes in the companies are now necessary so that something can move clearly and quickly at the negotiating table,” says collective bargaining board member Nadine Boguslawski of Deutsche Press agency. “Nobody wants the collective bargaining round to become a deadlock.”
The peace obligation of the area collective agreements for a total of around 3.9 million employees expires on Monday at midnight. So far, the collective bargaining partners have not achieved any rapprochement in two rounds of negotiations. IG Metall is demanding 7 percent more money within a year, while metal employers have offered 3.6 percent over a period of 27 months. The first stage of 1.7 percent is scheduled to take effect in July 2025. The companies point to weak production values and a lack of orders.
Boguslawski rejects the present offer as “too poor”. “An offer with a late pay increase that does not even compensate for expected future inflation is unacceptable for employees,” she says. People need perspectives and money to spend, which would also benefit the domestic economy. Employers must now do their part to combat the “fear of saving” with rapid and noticeable wage increases.
Source: Stern
