Press Release Large-scale laundry facilities: Employees secure a 4.6 percent pay increase and improved partial retirement arrangements

Göttingen/Frankfurt am Main – Higher real wages and greater recognition in large-scale laundries serving hospitals, nursing homes, the food service industry, and workwear providers: IG Metall has secured a 4.6 percent wage increase in two stages for employees at textile service providers. Employees in lower pay grades and apprentices will receive a disproportionately larger increase. The union reached this agreement with employers during the fourth round of collective bargaining late Monday night in Göttingen.

IG Metall negotiator Miriam Bürger said: “This outcome stands for stability, solidarity, and security: higher real wages in workers’ paychecks, improved conditions for employees in lower pay grades, and a more attractive partial retirement program for overworked staff. The record-breaking participation of employees in warning strikes and protests has led to a fair agreement: to retain skilled workers and laborers and to enhance the attractiveness of companies bound by collective bargaining agreements.”

Significantly more for apprentices and employees in lower pay grades

Specifically, wages are set to rise by 2.1 percent—but by at least 60 euros—on September 1, 2025. For September 1, 2026, the bargaining partners agreed on a wage increase of 2.5 percent and at least 70 euros. Employees in lower pay grades will thus receive a disproportionately larger increase, as will apprentices, whose compensation will rise by 60 and 70 euros, respectively. The provisions for partial retirement will continue, and employers’ supplementary payments will be increased by a total of 50 euros in two stages.

Previously, some 5,500 employees had exerted pressure through warning strikes and protests to resolve the collective bargaining dispute. They are now called upon to vote on the outcome of the negotiations at their respective workplaces. A new collective bargaining agreement applies directly to 12,500 employees in companies covered by an IG Metall collective bargaining agreement and extends to the industry as a whole, which employs a total of 23,000 people.

The new collective bargaining agreement will be in effect for 21 months, through the end of February 2027. The agreement is subject to approval by the IG Metall governing bodies.