Press Release No. 28/2013 Berthold Huber: Collective bargaining agreement guarantees employees a 5.6 percent pay increase

Munich – Berthold Huber, President of IG Metall, has described the collective bargaining agreement for the 770,000 workers in Bavaria’s metal and electrical industries as a good outcome. “With a 5.6 percent pay increase over the entire term of the agreement, workers will receive a fair and appropriate share of economic growth,” Huber said Wednesday in Munich.

More than 750,000 workers participating in warning strikes nationwide and nearly 180,000 colleagues from Bavaria fought hard for this result. “We consistently adhere to our collective bargaining guidelines: reliability, stability, and assertiveness,” said Huber. The regional collective bargaining system has emerged stronger from this round of negotiations. “The members, IG Metall shop stewards, and works council members made this success possible,” said Huber.

With this wage increase, IG Metall is securing a significant gain for the workforce. “For many years, our collective bargaining agreements have guaranteed wage increases of at least the inflation rate plus overall economic productivity growth. We are continuing this positive trend with today’s result,” said Huber.

The agreement covers a 20-month period with a structured pay increase in two stages. As of July 1, 2013, wages and apprenticeship stipends will be raised by 3.4 percent, and again by 2.2 percent as of May 1, 2014. This results in a total increase of 5.6 percent for employees.