PRESS RELEASE Record in the collective bargaining dispute in the textile and apparel industry: More than 20,000 workers

Frankfurt am Main – Ahead of the fourth round of collective bargaining this Friday, workers in the West German textile and apparel industry are ramping up pressure on employers with massive warning strikes: To date, more than 20,000 workers have participated in warning strikes, rallies, and protests—more than ever before in collective bargaining disputes in this industry over the past 25 years.

Miriam Bürger, chief negotiator for IG Metall: “The record turnout for the warning strikes sends a clear signal to employers and is a strong call for them to finally make a move. Our colleagues are highly motivated and firmly determined not to settle for a meager offer. We call on employers to finally take this signal seriously and present a significantly improved offer on Friday. Our colleagues urgently need a substantial pay increase that takes effect across the pay scale—and they deserve it.”

Today’s protests and rallies were centered in Elmshorn (Schleswig-Holstein) and Giengen near Heidenheim (Baden-Württemberg). There, employees from Carl Stahl, Paul Hartmann, Margarete Steiff, Vereinigte Filzfabrik, Ziegler, and Zwisstek, among others, gathered for a joint protest rally. Their aim was to reinforce their demands and put pressure on the employers.

IG Metall is demanding an 8 percent wage and salary increase for 12 months—or at least a monthly base amount of 200 euros—for the approximately 100,000 workers in the West German textile and apparel industry. In addition, the union is calling for the continuation of collective bargaining provisions for partial retirement with improved terms.

The employers’ association, on the other hand, is offering only a “inflation adjustment bonus” along with 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 wish to continue the existing partial retirement arrangement.

The record-breaking warning strike, with 20,000 participants, coincides with a special anniversary year: 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the merger between the Textile and Apparel Union and IG Metall.

The next—and fourth—round of collective bargaining will take place this Friday, March 31, in Billerbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia. Negotiations will begin at 2:00 p.m. A warning strike rally is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. in front of the negotiation venue in Billerbeck.