Collective bargaining: Employers offer 1.3 percent in the metal collective bargaining round

Warning strikes in the metal and electrical industries are possible from the end of the week. In the second round of negotiations, the employers now submit an offer.

Berlin. In the regional collective bargaining for the 3.7 million employees in the German metal and electrical industry, the employers presented an offer of 1.3 percent more money. The plus should take effect in July 2028, said the employers' association Gesamtmetall in Berlin. Accordingly, a term of 26 months is planned until the end of 2028.

According to Gesamtmetall, for the first time in the industry's collective bargaining history, employers have submitted an offer in five collective bargaining areas at the same time. It was voted on nationwide and sent to IG Metall at the start of the second round of negotiations in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and the north. The other tariff areas should follow.

Union demands five percent

Among other things, IG Metall is demanding five percent more money with a significantly shorter term of twelve months. The first round of regional negotiations at the beginning of October ended without results. The peace obligation ends at the end of October 31st. Warning strikes are possible from Sunday.

The employers' offer also provides for a one-off payment of 1 percent of the average annual gross salary in July 2027. This should be automatically suspended if companies are barely making any money. So far, a net return on sales of 2.3 percent has been the limit for this “automatic differentiation”. The differentiation, which has so far only been applicable to a small part of remuneration, is to be expanded according to the employers' wishes.

Employers also want to introduce a new instrument at company level if investments, innovations, locations and employment need to be secured. Works councils and no longer the union would then be responsible for such negotiations.

In addition, a “desire to discuss the high sickness rates and measures to reduce medical costs” is expressed.