Germany Metalworkers Launch Strikes Over Pay Disputes

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Warning strikes have commenced in Germany's metal and electrical industries as collective bargaining negotiations proceed against the backdrop of Volkswagen’s plans to close multiple plants

Germany's IG Metall union initiated strikes in the metal and electrical industries early Tuesday, beginning with protests during the night shift. These strikes are part of the union’s ongoing collective bargaining process concerning pay and working conditions for approximately 3.9 million workers in Germany's automotive and other manufacturing sectors.

According to IG Metall, 250 employees participated in the strike at the Volkswagen (VW) plant in Osnabrück, a city in northwestern Germany. In Hildesheim, roughly 400 workers from various companies also joined the strike during the night.

"The fact that production lines are now at a standstill and offices are empty is the responsibility of the employers," stated IG Metall negotiator and district manager Thorsten Gröger in a statement made to around 200 workers at the Clarios company in Hannover. He emphasized that if fair solutions for their colleagues are not reached in negotiations with their partners, further actions would be necessary.

Additional strikes are planned for later in the day. The union is demanding a 7% wage increase over 12 months, while employers have countered with a proposed 3.6% increase in two stages over a 27-month period.

The negotiations, now entering their third round on Tuesday, are overshadowed by significant austerity measures proposed by Volkswagen. The automotive giant has announced plans to close at least three plants in Germany and cut tens of thousands of jobs, according to the head of VW’s works council in a recent address to employees.

Protests are expected to continue nationwide, including at the Osnabrück plant, which is under threat of closure. This particular plant does not fall under VW's corporate collective agreement but is instead governed by a regional industry-wide collective agreement.