Frankfurt am Main – Workers in the German metal and electrical industries are demanding noticeably higher wages from their employers. That is the result of a survey of approximately 318,000 workers. With this survey, IG Metall is kicking off the debate on demands for the major round of collective bargaining this fall.
Majority Struggles with Persistently Rising Costs
Employees expect significantly higher wages from the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations to offset the effects of inflation. For a large majority of those surveyed, the issue of self-determined working hours is also important at present. Employees cited securing job sites and employment, as well as retirement security, as additional priorities.
72 percent of all respondents are feeling the impact of persistently rising costs and want to strengthen their purchasing power. Apprentices and dual-track students are under particular financial strain. Among this group, 93 percent complain about the increased cost of living.
Christiane Benner, President of IG Metall: “Inflation may be slowing, but prices remain high. Employees expect employers to provide a tangible and lasting increase in pay to counter price pressures.” This core message from the survey serves as an important basis for the union’s democratic bodies to formulate tailored collective bargaining demands.
Mixed Views on the Economic Situation
At the same time, employees view the economic situation in a nuanced way: For example, 41 percent of employees describe the perceived economic situation in Germany as bad or very bad. By contrast, 80 percent of employees consider the economic situation at their local workplace to be acceptable, and 44 percent even consider it good or very good.
Nadine Boguslawski, IG Metall’s Executive Board member responsible for collective bargaining: “Overall, employees perceive the economic situation at their workplaces much more positively than the current lamentations of the employers’ associations would suggest. There is something to be shared.”
A total of 318,453 IG Metall members and non-members from 2,705 companies participated in the survey. It serves as a basis for the discussion IG Metall has launched regarding its demands for the collective bargaining round in the metal and electrical industry. The IG Metall Executive Board plans to recommend specific demands to the regional bargaining committees on June 17. The collective bargaining agreements for wages in the metal and electrical industries can be terminated as of September 30, 2024.
Further information and press photos by Christiane Benner
Further information and press photos of Nadine Boguslawski
