Walkouts across the country. A strike movement began on Saturday in the vast sector of metallurgy and electro-industry in Germany, at the call of the powerful German union IG Metall, which demands a wage increase. These “warning strikes” brought together more than 2,000 people, according to press releases published by the various regional sections of the organization.
In Bavaria (south), 1,300 employees in the sector, which includes 26,000 automotive, electronics and machine tool companies, participated in the movement, according to the union. In the factory of the giant Thyssenkrupp in Rasselstein (west), 300 people “started at midnight to stop work”, indicated IG Metall. More than 500 employees went on strike in the region of Lower Saxony (north). Other work stoppages were organized throughout Germany, at the call of the union.
A revaluation of 8% of wages demanded
IG Metall is asking for an 8% wage increase, refused by companies in this strategic sector, which employs 3.8 million people. Employee representatives justify their claim by the “sharp rise in prices” at a time when inflation exceeds 10% in the largest European economy. Companies in the sector offer a single premium of 3,000 euros, which would be valid for 30 months. The employers’ organization Gesamtmetall believes that the union has “become blind to the reality of the industry, at worst because of the energy crisis, according to its president Stefan Wolf.
No duration of the movement has yet been communicated. Further negotiations are scheduled for November 10.