Press Release No. 10/2015 IG Metall President Calls on Employers to Make Concessions in Collective Bargaining in the Metal...

Frankfurt am Main – IG Metall will continue its warning strikes in the metal and electrical industries at full force next week. “We need employers across the board to make concessions on wages, improved partial-retirement arrangements, and forward-looking part-time training programs,” said Detlef Wetzel, First Chairman of IG Metall, on Sunday in Frankfurt. “In recent days, more than 450,000 metalworkers—in their workplaces, at the factory gates, and on the streets—have impressively demonstrated, despite the freezing cold, what they think of the employers’ offer so far. They have applied pressure through the warning strikes and will continue to do so next week,” said the IG Metall president.

The third round of negotiations will continue on Monday in Bavaria. This will be followed by collective bargaining talks on Wednesday in Baden-Württemberg and the Central Region, on Thursday for Northern Germany, and on Friday in Lower Saxony. IG Metall is demanding a 5.5 percent pay increase for workers in the metal and electrical industries, as well as provisions for part-time work related to retirement and education.

Note to editors:
Specific plans for warning strikes will be announced by the respective IG Metall regional leaderships.