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 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, the lead negotiator for the north-west German steel industry, after the fourth round of negotiations without a result. The first 24-hour warning strikes were to begin in the morning. According to IG Metall, other companies will then follow suit.
Warning strikes have also been announced for the East German steel industry. "The employers show no willingness to increase wages appropriately and reduce working hours significantly," said Dirk Schulze, lead negotiator for the eastern steel industry. IG Metall canceled the round of negotiations planned for Tuesday for the eastern steel industry.
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 in the West is scheduled for December 15 in Düsseldorf. Negotiations for the eastern German steel industry will continue on December 18.
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The metal wage dispute in the steel industry led to the announcement of warning strikes, with IG Metall initiating the first 24-hour action in response to the employers' unwillingness to significantly increase wages and reduce working hours. The 'ig' also announced warning strikes for the East German steel industry due to the same reason: inadequate wage adjustments and working hour reductions.
Source: www.ntv.de
