Status: 11/04/2022 6:16 p.m
The IG Metall trade union is demanding eight percent more wages. There is broad support for this from its members. Hundreds of thousands walked out of work in the first week of the warning strikes.
In the first week of the warning strikes in the German metal and electrical industry, more than 200,000 people briefly stopped work. The large turnout shows that we stand together behind the demand for eight percent more money, explained IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann. The union is able to tighten the pace.
On Friday alone, around 83,000 participants from around 400 companies temporarily stopped working. For example, the BMW plant in Leipzig, Ford in Cologne, the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, the automotive supplier Bosch in Bamberg and the main Porsche plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen were affected. Since last week there have been campaigns in more than 1000 companies.
Demand for eight percent more wages
The union is demanding eight percent more wages for the 3.8 million employees in Germany’s largest branch of industry over a twelve-month period. She insists on a percentage, permanent wage increase. The employers offered a sum of 3,000 euros net over a period of 30 months, which IG Metall rejected as far too low. “The special payment offered so far is not a basis for serious negotiations. The employees need permanent, regular wage increases,” demanded the IG Metall boss.
Both sides argue with the high inflation: The union is demanding compensation for the sharp increase in the cost of living of more than ten percent. From their point of view, the majority of companies still earn well enough. Companies are also struggling with sharply rising energy and raw material costs. According to the employers’ association, there is therefore little scope for higher personnel costs. In the coming week, the fourth round of regional collective bargaining will continue in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.