Chemical workers are demanding up to seven percent more wages. In doing so, they are ushering in a collective bargaining year in which there will be fierce conflicts with employers in many industries – including over shorter working hours.
Many people are currently talking about striking train drivers, the expected shutdown of the airports on Thursday or the bus and tram drivers who are stopping work this Friday. At the same time, a really big wage round picked up speed on Tuesday, which hardly anyone has noticed so far. In the chemical and pharmaceutical industry it is about the salaries of 585,000 employees; it is the third largest collective bargaining round in Germany. The union has now put its demands on the table: The board recommends six to seven percent more wages for one year.