Industry - All-day warning strikes after inconclusive steel collective bargaining round
IG Metall has announced all-day warning strikes in the wage dispute in the north-west German and east German steel industry after the fourth round of negotiations failed to produce a result. "After both sides took steps towards a solution model on the issue of working hours in many areas, the attempt to reach an agreement then failed primarily on the issue of the pay increase," said Knut Giesler, lead negotiator for the north-west German steel industry, on Tuesday morning. The first 24-hour warning strikes were to begin in the morning. According to IG Metall, other companies will then follow suit.
The steel employers' association described IG Metall's ideas as "completely exaggerated". "IG Metall's attitude of measuring the employers' financial offers solely against their own exaggerated expectations and not against the financial possibilities of the companies in the face of an impending economic crisis is completely irresponsible," said Managing Director Gerhard Erdmann.
According to IG Metall, the employers have offered a one-off payment of 1,000 euros for January 2024 and a pay rise of 3.5 percent from July 2024 with a total term of 19 months. "This offer is so far removed from a possible final result that we have decided to end the negotiations," said Giesler. Among other things, the union is demanding a wage increase of 8.5 percent for a term of twelve months as well as a 32-hour week with full wage compensation.
Around 68,000 people are employed in the steel and iron industry in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Lower Saxony, and around 8,000 in the East German steel industry. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for December 15 in Düsseldorf.
IG Metall statement
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- The failure to agree on a pay increase during the fourth round of negotiations in the steel collective bargaining conflict led IG Metall to announce all-day warning strikes in the north-west German and east German steel industry.
- The steel employers' association criticized IG Metall's demands, stating that their financial offers were being measured against exaggerated expectations instead of the financial capabilities of the companies facing an economic crisis.
- According to Gerhard Erdmann, the managing director of the steel employers' association, IG Metall's proposal for a 32-hour week with full wage compensation and a wage increase of 8.5 percent for a term of twelve months is unreasonable.
- Despite the employers' offer of a one-off payment of 1,000 euros for January 2024 and a pay rise of 3.5 percent from July 2024 with a total term of 19 months, IG Metall insisted on more substantial wage increases, leading to an end to the negotiations.
- The tariffs imposed on steel imports from China and other countries have additionally affected the German steel industry, adding complexity to the ongoing wage dispute between IG Metall and the steel employers' association, led by Knut Giesler.
Source: www.stern.de
