PRESS RELEASE No agreement in the textile and apparel sector: IG Metall intensifies warning strikes

Frankfurt am Main/Kaarst – Following a third round of collective bargaining in Kaarst (North Rhine-Westphalia) that ended without a resolution, IG Metall plans to intensify warning strikes in the West German textile and apparel industry. Negotiator Miriam Bürger expressed her disappointment after the eight-hour meeting on Wednesday evening: “Employers are blocking issues that are central to the workers. In particular, they are denying low-wage earners a permanent adjustment for inflation. And they are refusing to offer a good partial retirement program as a pathway to a dignified transition to retirement.”

Following an initial wave of protests and warning strikes involving over 13,500 participants, the union now intends to increase pressure on employers. “Anyone who refuses to address future-oriented issues at the negotiating table is practically inviting even more protests at the factory gates. You don’t combat the shortage of skilled workers by chasing profits, but above all by showing more respect for employees,” said Bürger.

IG Metall is demanding an 8 percent increase in wages and salaries for 12 months, with a minimum monthly base amount of 200 euros. In addition, the union is calling for the continuation of the collectively bargained partial retirement provisions with improved terms.

The employers’ association, on the other hand, is offering—in addition to an “inflation adjustment bonus”—only a permanent wage increase of 4.0 percent effective October 1, 2023, and 2.5 percent effective October 1, 2024, for a term of 26 months. The employers do not want to continue the existing partial retirement arrangement.

Approximately 100,000 people are employed in the West German textile and apparel industry. IG Metall and the employers have agreed to hold the next—fourth—round of collective bargaining on March 31, 2023.