Press Release No. 08/2013 IG Metall Executive Board Recommends Up to 5.5 Percent for Metal Industry Wage Negotiations

Frankfurt/Main – The IG Metall Executive Board has recommended to the regional bargaining committees for the 2013 collective bargaining round in the metal and electrical industries that they demand an increase in wages and apprenticeship stipends of up to 5.5 percent over a twelve-month period. “A demand for up to 5.5 percent more pay for workers in the metal and electrical industries is reasonable, affordable for companies, and will boost private consumption,” said Berthold Huber, President of IG Metall, on Monday in Frankfurt.

IG Metall thus continues to advocate for a reliable collective bargaining policy that ensures employees receive a fair share of the economic upswing and takes the current economic situation into account. “If the external contribution to economic growth remains stable in 2013, Germany needs additional momentum from private demand. We are taking this into account alongside the distribution-neutral leeway,” said Huber.

IG Metall bases the amount of its wage demand on overall economic productivity and inflation trends. This leeway has been fully utilized in recent years. “We will ensure that the positive trend in collectively bargained wages in the metal and electrical industries continues this year as well. The workers deserve it,” said the IG Metall chairman.

The regional bargaining committees will discuss the amount of the demand on Wednesday, March 13, 2013. The IG Metall Executive Board will address the decisions of the bargaining committees in an extraordinary meeting on Friday, March 15, 2013, and finalize the demand. The collective bargaining agreements expire on April 30, 2013.