PRESS RELEASE NO. 04/2019 More money for workers in the West German textile industry; improved partial retirement arrangements

Bielefeld ― According to IG Metall, the bargaining partners in the West German textile and apparel industry have reached a collective bargaining agreement in the third round of negotiations. “Under the terms of the agreement, employees will receive a 4.9 percent pay increase in two stages,” said IG Metall’s chief negotiator, Manfred Menningen, on Wednesday in Bielefeld. “IG Metall has succeeded in securing a real wage increase for employees. The increase in contributions to the partial retirement program will help shape demographic change within companies in a way that benefits employees.”

This outcome was achieved primarily through pressure from the more than 10,000 workers who participated in warning strikes. The agreement, reached on behalf of the industry’s 100,000 employees, provides for a 2.6 percent pay increase effective August 1, 2019, and a 2.3 percent increase effective September 1, 2020. For the months of February through July, employees will receive a one-time payment of 340 euros. Apprenticeship wages will increase by 30 euros per month during the same period. In addition, they will receive a one-time payment of 170 euros for 6 months. The collective bargaining agreement has a term of 24 months and ends on January 31, 2021.

Furthermore, the supplementary payments for partial retirement will be increased to 570 euros in the first stage and to 600 euros in the second stage. The vacation pay will increase by 2.6 percent this year and by 2.3 percent in 2020.

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