Strikes: Warning strikes in the metal industry are starting nationwide

Berlin. Warning strikes have gained momentum nationwide in the metal and electrical industries. Whether at Audi in Ingolstadt, Mercedes-Benz in Berlin or Tata Steel in Gelsenkirchen - in many companies, employees temporarily stopped work on Monday and pressed for their demands in front of the factory gates.

IG Metall is demanding five percent more money from November for the 3.7 million employees of Germany's most important industry, as well as collective bargaining protection for jobs and locations. While the need for more crisis management tools for companies under economic pressure is to be examined, the union is calling for profit sharing in high-earning sectors.

The union considers the employers' associations' offer for the second round of negotiations last week to be a negative round because it would not even compensate for the inflation rate. In addition to a one-off payment of one percent in July 2027, employers offered 1.3 percent more wages from July 2028.

For companies in crisis, the one-off payment should be canceled - in Baden-Württemberg, where the currently crisis-ridden automobile industry has a large share, almost every second company would be affected by this. Employers argue that the industry is in the worst crisis since the founding of the Federal Republic.

The warning strikes will continue throughout the week. IG Metall wants to take stock on Friday of how many employees took part. During the previous collective bargaining round in autumn 2024, more than 100,000 workers were on the streets every day with red flags, whistles and chants. So far, there has only been another negotiation date in the northern German coastal district, where the collective bargaining parties want to meet again for negotiations on November 6th.