Because You Matter IG Metall Talk: More money despite the crisis?!

In the third episode of “Because You Matter! – The IG Metall Talk,” our host Jacqueline Sternheimer speaks with IG Metall President Christiane Benner and IG Metall Collective Bargaining Director Nadine Boguslawski about the 2026 collective bargaining round in the metal and electrical industries, IG Metall’s demand for a 5 percent pay increase, rising living costs, and the economic situation in Germany.

Many workers feel as though they’re being swept from one crisis to the next: war, inflation, job cuts, discussions about cuts to social benefits, and attacks on the eight-hour workday are causing uncertainty. At the same time, current economic data paints a different picture: economic forecasts are improving, exports are rising, and many companies report a stable or even strong business situation. Why, then, do employers constantly talk about a crisis? And how are workers really faring? 

The discussion will address these questions, among others:

• Why Higher Wages Can Strengthen the Economy
• How collective bargaining safeguards purchasing power and jobs
• Why Workers Are Not to Blame for Economic Problems
• The role of energy costs, industrial policy, and investment
• Why solidarity remains the key to success even in difficult times

The 2026 collective bargaining round in the metal and electrical industries directly affects approximately 3.7 million workers in those sectors. But its impact extends far beyond that: Higher wages boost purchasing power, secure jobs, and stabilize entire regions. That is precisely why this round of collective bargaining is about much more than just percentages. 

Collective bargaining negotiations begin on October 7.

More episodes of the IG Metall video podcast “Because You Matter – The IG Metall Talk”:
First episode: How do we make Germany more equitable?
Episode 2: How do we secure the future of industry?
Episode 4: Dangerous mismanagement by corporate executives