Through strikes, we make our voices heard and earn respect. Our ability to strike is a measure of our influence—and thus also of our political clout. Strikes are not an end in themselves, but they are sometimes unavoidable. In such cases, IG Metall naturally also provides financial support to its members, provided they have paid their statutory membership dues for at least three months prior to the month of the strike vote.
The payments—known as strike pay—are calculated for each affected member based on the duration of their membership and the amount of their personal dues. Warning strikes are generally excluded from this. For the full-day warning strikes introduced in 2015 (colloquially known as 24-hour strikes or “power strikes”), the IG Metall Executive Board may nevertheless pay strike pay following a resolution.
The strike pay for one week of strike action is:
- For a contribution period of 3 to 12 months: 12 times the average contribution over the last 3 months*
- For a contribution period of 12 to 60 months: 13 times the average contribution over the last 3 months*
- For a contribution period of 60 months or more: 14 times the average contribution for the last 3 months*.
*prior to the calendar month of the strike vote
Example: A member with more than five years of membershipwho has paid an average monthly dues of 25 euros over the past three months receives 350 euros in strike pay per week (70 euros per strike day for a 5-day workweek).
You can calculate what support you’re entitled to in the event of a strike here.
Support in the Event of Disciplinary Action or a Lockout
Those who are active in the union should not suffer any disadvantages as a result. If an employer causes problems—for example, by threatening disadvantages or through actual disciplinary action or discrimination such as loss of pay or termination—IG Metall will, of course, also provide financial support to its members, provided they have paid membership dues in accordance with the bylaws for at least 3 months. Because: Solidarity is indivisible!
Payments for each affected member are calculated based on the duration of membership and the amount of membership dues personally paid.
Furthermore, our members must not be disadvantaged if they participate in a strike action authorized by IG Metall. The same applies in the event of a lockout, provided the strike action was authorized by the IG Metall Executive Board.
