Press Release No. 42/2018 IG Metall calls for a 5.5 percent increase in income for workers in the West German textile industry

Darmstadt — Ahead of the start of collective bargaining negotiations for the nearly 100,000 workers in the West German textile and apparel industry, IG Metall has demanded a 5.5 percent increase in wages, salaries, and apprenticeship stipends. In addition, the collective bargaining agreement on partial retirement is to be extended, financially improved, and the eligibility criteria (quota) expanded. “This demand is fair, affordable, and forward-looking. It’s not enough to just finance brands; you also have to invest in people,” said Manfred Menningen, IG Metall’s chief negotiator, on Thursday in Darmstadt. “Given the demographic trends in the industry, raising the partial retirement quota under improved conditions is essential, especially for many employees. The average age in the industry remains high. Employers must increase their contributions so that our colleagues can actually afford to participate in partial retirement.”

In addition to an appropriate pay increase, employees should be given the option to take additional days off instead of receiving a pay raise. To this end, IG Metall is calling on employers to engage in discussions. This is because, on the one hand, employees are expected to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in the workplace, while on the other hand, their expectations regarding working hours are changing so they can better balance work and life. “Securing a skilled workforce in particular requires modern and attractive options for shaping one’s own work schedule. Employers who refuse to adopt modern work-schedule tools will find themselves without skilled workers as early as tomorrow,” Menningen emphasized. The German textile industry is a state-of-the-art industry that also includes high-performing suppliers to the automotive and aerospace industries. Furthermore, the sector is a leader in the production of so-called technical textiles. But the apparel industry, which is still undergoing structural change, also needs attractive collective bargaining agreements to secure a skilled workforce.

Note to editors:

The current collective bargaining agreement for the West German textile and apparel industry expires on January 31, 2019. The peace obligation in the industry also ends on that date. Central collective bargaining negotiations for West Germany begin today at 1:30 p.m. in Darmstadt.