German union IG Metall on Tuesday demanded a 6 percent wage increase for 72,000 employees in the steel industry in the northwest of the country. The influential branch of IG Metall in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) also requires an annual bonus of 1,800 euros, which workers can choose to move to additional weekends.
The claim by IG Metall, Germany's largest union, representing 3.9 million workers in the metals and electrical sectors, could serve as a benchmark for wage negotiations in the automotive and manufacturing industries.
Last year, the group demanded a similar increase and the right to shorter hours. After tough negotiations and strikes in Germany's industrial center in the southwest, he struck a deal with employers that includes a 4.3 percent increase in wages and other payments spread over 27 months.
The deal was seen as marking the end of Germany's year-long wage containment period, helping the European Central Bank try to keep inflation close to its target and keep it on track to curb its massive stimulus.
Negotiations this year will come amid a cooling trend in Europe's economy, which is in its ninth straight year of growth.
German union demands 6% wage increase for steelworkers
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Azovpromstal® 6 December 2018 г. 13:29 |
