Frankfurt am Main/Essen – With 7 percent more money for employees and 170 euros more for trainees, IG Metall wants to strengthen purchasing power and support the economy. The union’s board decided on this demand on Tuesday in Essen. The decision was preceded by discussions and resolutions in the regional collective bargaining committees. Under the motto “Solidarity wins,” IG Metall is launching the collective bargaining round for the 3.9 million employees in the metal and electrical industry in the fall.
Christiane Benner, First Chairwoman of IG Metall, said: “Our demand does justice to the situation of employees and companies and is urgently needed. The inflation rate may be falling, but the prices at the checkout remain high for people. The increases and one-off payments from the last collective agreement have been used up. Now the employees have earned a reliable permanent compensation with seven percent more money.” Trainees in particular suffered from the increased cost of living. Therefore, their remuneration would have to increase disproportionately with an “attractiveness turbo” of 170 euros. The term of the new collective agreement should be 12 months.
In addition to employees, domestic demand as an anchor of stability in the economy also requires significantly higher wages in the German core industry. “Our colleagues and the economy now need a decent plus and therefore good prospects,” said Benner. “The same applies to securing the country’s future and employment through politics and companies: massive investments are needed now.”
With a social component, IG Metall wants to pay particular attention to the lower income groups in the companies. IG Metall also insists that employers take better account of the stress and commitment of employees during working hours: “Commitment to colleagues, society and democracy needs more recognition.” The existing options between time and money for full-time employees with shift work , care or educational tasks should be expanded to include more people and topics.
Nadine Boguslawski, collective bargaining officer at IG Metall, said: “With our demand we respect the different situations of the companies. In return, we expect employers to respect the situation and the reality of life of the employees.” The seven districts of IG Metall will start the first negotiations in mid-September. The collective wage agreement for the metal and electrical industries expires on September 30th. The peace obligation ends on October 28, 2024. After that, warning strikes are possible.