IG Metall will continue strike in Germany

Jörg Hofmann, head of the German trade union IG Metall, announced the continuation of preventive action in the metallurgical and electrical industries until the next round of tariff negotiations.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, more than 20,000 employees were invited to strike on Wednesday, an IG Metall spokesman said. Strikes are expected to take place at ThyssenKrupp factories. Trade union rallies are planned, including at Siemens factories and MAN truck production. The warning strike will also take place at Daimler's Stuttgart plant.

The preventive measures, which began on 8 January, involve some 80,000 employees. IG Metall requires, among other things, to pay 2% more, as well as to provide all employees with a temporary opportunity (up to two years) to reduce working hours from 35 to 28 hours per week.

Parents of young children and employees whose members need special care will also receive partial compensation for reduced working hours, as employers strongly oppose this.

The next round of tariff negotiations is due to start on January 11 in Baden-Württemberg, where they have their own capabilities, including Porsche, Daimler and Bosch, on January 15 in Bavaria - BMW and MAN factories, and on January 18 in North Rhine-Westphalia - factories ThyssenKrupp.