Press Release No. 33/2010 IG Metall Welcomes Bosch’s Decision to Bring Forward the Wage Increase

Frankfurt am Main – IG Metall has welcomed Bosch’s intention to bring forward by two months the 2.7 percent wage increase agreed upon for April 2011. “Bringing forward the wage increase is fair, so that employees can share in the economic recovery,” said Helga Schwitzer, executive board member of IG Metall.

Although the economic recovery has not yet fully taken hold in all sectors and companies, it has taken effect surprisingly quickly in the automotive industry. Schwitzer called on other companies to take the rapid economic recovery as an opportunity to also raise wages two months earlier.

The collective bargaining agreement for the metal and electrical industries from February 2010 provides, among other things, for wage increases of 2.7 percent effective April 1, 2011. Companies may bring this increase forward by two months.