Frankfurt am Main – As collective bargaining begins for the 3.7 million workers in the metal and electrical industry, IG Metall is calling on companies to emphasize the strengths of Germany as an industrial hub with its skilled workforce. “We expect employers to recognize the contributions of their employees and to commit to the region,” says IG Metall President Christiane Benner. “Workers want answers, not fear-mongering. We will not accept any attempts to downplay the importance of Germany as an industrial hub. Instead, we expect employers to quickly put substantive offers on the table—ones that boost purchasing power and safeguard jobs. We are entering these initial negotiations with a spirit of determined realism.”
IG Metall’s collective bargaining director, Nadine Boguslawski, emphasizes that the union’s proposed collective bargaining package addresses every situation companies may face: “Workers and the economy need tangible purchasing power, a fair share of economic success, and reliable long-term plans from companies. Instead of employers’ ‘Wild West’ methods, only clear and fair collective bargaining rules can continue to secure a bright future for everyone.”
IG Metall is demanding a 5 percent increase in wages and apprenticeship wages from employers for 12 months. In companies facing crises, the union aims to strengthen collective bargaining provisions to secure the future and jobs at these companies. For employees in booming companies, IG Metall expects a profit-sharing arrangement under the collective bargaining agreement. In addition, employees in lower pay grades are to be better compensated.
Negotiations for the metal and electrical industries are being conducted by the IG Metall districts for the various collective bargaining regions. The peace obligation remains in effect until October 31; this means warning strikes are possible starting November 1. The first rounds of negotiations begin on Wednesday (negotiation locations are listed in parentheses):
- Wednesday, October 7:
Baden-Württemberg (Ludwigsburg); North Rhine-Westphalia (Düsseldorf)
- Thursday, October 8:
Bavaria (Munich); Coast (Hamburg-Bergedorf), Lower Saxony (Langenhagen); Osnabrück-Emsland-Grafschaft Bentheim (Osnabrück), Saxony-Anhalt (Barleben)
- Friday, October 9:
Central Group (Hesse, Palatinate, Rhineland-Rheinhessen, Saarland) (Frankfurt am Main)
- Monday, October 12:
Thuringia (Erfurt); Berlin-Brandenburg (Berlin)
- Wednesday, October 14:
Saxony (Chemnitz)
Note for newsrooms: Regional contacts can be found at: www.igmetall.de/presse-bezirke
The negotiation dates and locations will be continuously updated here:
igmetall.de/presse/termine/2026/tarifrunde-metall-und-elektroindustrie-2026
