Press Release No. 21/2015 IG Metall Steps Up the Pressure – 850,000 Warning Strikers Mobilized

Frankfurt am Main – Shortly before the decisive fourth round of negotiations in the collective bargaining dispute in the metal and electrical industries, IG Metall has significantly increased the pressure on employers. “Since the start of the warning strikes, around 850,000 workers have walked off the job. The clear message is: Metalworkers are expecting a breakthrough in the negotiations today,” said Jörg Hofmann, Second Chairman of IG Metall, on Monday at a rally in Ingolstadt.

Just under 100,000 workers from 480 companies had participated in walkouts, rallies, and early-closing actions by Monday afternoon (2 p.m.), IG Metall announced in Frankfurt. Further actions are planned for the afternoon and evening. Since the start of the warning strikes, approximately 850,000 metalworkers from around 3,800 companies nationwide have demonstrated in support of their demands for a 5.5 percent wage increase as well as provisions for part-time work related to retirement and education.

Today’s warning strikes were concentrated in Baden-Württemberg. There, nearly 47,000 striking workers from more than 160 companies underscored their demands with various actions.

In Bavaria, approximately 35,000 metalworkers from 107 companies went on strike.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, over 16,000 workers from about 190 companies took part in warning strikes.

In the IG Metall Central District, around 1,800 workers from 20 companies heeded IG Metall’s call to strike.