Press Release No. 08/2011 IG Metall Reaches Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Textile and Apparel Industry

Frankfurt am Main – After thirteen hours of negotiations, IG Metall and employers in the West German textile and apparel industry have reached a collective bargaining agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, wages, salaries, and apprenticeship stipends will increase by 3.6 percent effective October 1, 2011. For the months of May through September 2011, the approximately 130,000 employees will each receive a one-time monthly payment of 50 euros, while apprentices will each receive 25 euros. The collective bargaining agreement will remain in effect for a total of 20 months, through October 31, 2012.

“This agreement ensures that employees in the industry receive a fair share of the economic recovery and provides quick planning certainty for both employees and companies,” said IG Metall Executive Board member Helga Schwitzer on Tuesday in Frankfurt.

The collective bargaining agreement allows companies in a stronger financial position to bring forward the percentage increase or double the one-time payment. Similarly, companies facing particular economic difficulties may reduce the increase. “An agreement on job security is a prerequisite for this,” said IG Metall negotiator Michael Jung. In addition, the parties to the collective bargaining agreement agreed to establish a working group to address regulations for dealing with demographic change.