Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lsw) – In the collective bargaining conflict in the German metal and electrical industry, IG Metall is relying on a pilot agreement in the south-west. On Monday evening, the union’s federal executive board gave the green light for an attempt to reach an agreement in the Baden-Württemberg district, which has often been a pioneer for collective bargaining solutions in the past. The negotiations are scheduled to begin in the fifth round on Thursday afternoon in Ludwigsburg.
IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann demanded an improved offer. According to a statement, he said: “Employers have to move now. They will only do that if we keep up the pressure. That’s why we’re calling for warning strikes nationwide again this week.”
By Monday afternoon, 525,000 people had already taken part in the strikes, which usually lasted several hours, as the union in Frankfurt reported. The focus on Monday was Baden-Württemberg with more than 10,000 participants. Warning strikes are also planned for the coming days. The peace obligation expired a good two weeks ago.
IG Metall is demanding eight percent more wages for the approximately 3.9 million employees with a contract period of twelve months. The employers have offered a one-off payment of 3,000 euros net for a period of 30 months, as well as an unspecified increase in the wage tables. They refer, among other things, to the expected economic crisis in Germany and sharply rising energy costs.
Should the talks in Ludwigsburg fail, the union could also initiate a strike ballot on indefinite strikes. A slightly lower level of escalation are 24-hour strikes, for which participants would receive strike pay. According to the statutes of IG Metall, a ballot is not necessary. In the event of failure, the board will immediately advise how to proceed, IG Metall announced on Monday.
