Germany’s largest union, IG Metall, which represents the country’s metalworkers, has started series of strikes in pursuit of a pay deal for its members.
A union spokesperson said that workers laid down tools in the first few minutes of Monday at two companies: 65 workers took part in the strike action in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg, while 100 joined the strike in the western city of Iserlohn.
The rolling strikes are expected to affect companies in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, including luxury carmaker Porsche, in several cities of North Rhine Westphalia and in eastern Germany in the course of Monday.
Companies affected include lift manufacturers Otis in Berlin, Bombardier in Brandenburg near the capital and Volkswagen in the eastern city of Chemnitz.
IG Metall is demanding a pay rise of 6 per cent for all of its 3.9 million members and an option to work a 28-hour week; it also wants shift workers, parents of young children and those who care for a family member to receive a partial wage adjustment.
“Our demands are economically reasonable, affordable and the right responses to the modern world of work,’’ the head of the Leipzig branch of IG Metall, Bernd Kruppa, told the Leipziger Volkszeitung newspaper.
The German economy is booming, the order books are full and the forecasts for 2018 are good, he added.
The employers have rejected these demands and are offering a 2 per cent rise.
The next round of talks between the unions and employers are due to take place on Thursday. (dpa/NAN)
