Metal and electrical industries
Collective bargaining parties are aiming for a pilot agreement
On Monday, the leaders of the metal collective bargaining districts of Bavaria and the Coast will meet for what could be the decisive fourth round of negotiations. When it comes to the main issue, the gap is still wide.
According to those involved, the exploratory talks in the metal and electrical industry are objective but tough. “The employers are also very interested in resolving the collective bargaining dispute. We are committed to finding a solution,” says the Bavarian IG Metall boss and negotiator Horst Ott: “Everyone sitting at the table is aware of their responsibility.”
The collective bargaining parties in the Bavarian and coastal collective bargaining districts want to work together on Monday to try to reach a pilot agreement for 3.9 million employees in the metal and electrical industries nationwide. We’re not at the finish line yet, says Ott. There are a few issues where a solution is gradually coming into view. “But when it comes to the core issue of money, we are miles apart.”
The union is demanding seven percent more wages for a contract term of one year. For a term of 27 months, employers gradually offer a total of 3.6 percent more after nine zero months. In previous collective agreements, gradual increases and contract durations often played an important role.
Flexible regulations in exchange for commitments
Employers constantly point to new bad news from companies. Ott, on the other hand, says: “When companies get into difficulties, we have always found a solution. But it’s about an area collective agreement.”
During the ongoing exploratory discussions, individual topics are discussed in small groups. For example, there are exceptions for companies that are doing poorly, specifically: that generate a return on sales of less than 2.3 percent. Employers want to expand such exceptions. The union wants to limit this and in return make other promises. Different topics can also be linked together.
There is fundamental agreement that salaries for trainees should increase disproportionately. But there is no concrete number yet.
“Full throttle again” during the warning strikes
IG Metall wants to continue calling for warning strikes until a pilot conclusion is reached. “We are going full throttle again to show the employer that we are serious,” says Ott.
The late shift at BMW’s largest European plant in Dingolfing is scheduled to finish two and a half hours early today. Ott wants to speak to the strikers in front of the factory. In the Allgäu, all shifts at AGCO Fendt, Robert Bosch and Liebherr Aerospace should end their shifts two or three hours earlier. In total, IG Metall Bayern is calling on employees in 36 companies to go on warning strikes.
dpa
Source: Stern
