World

IG Metall Strikes Hit Major German Manufacturers Amid Wage Dispute

By Al Jazeera Staff

IG Metall, Germany’s largest union, has launched a wave of strikes on Monday, escalating a wage dispute that involves about 3.7 million workers in the metal and electrical engineering sectors. The walkouts have affected major manufacturers such as Audi, Mercedes‑Benz and Tata Steel. The union is demanding a 5 percent pay rise to address cost‑of‑living pressures, along with measures to protect jobs, production sites and profit‑sharing arrangements in strong‑performing sectors. Employers have offered a one‑off payment equal to 1 percent of pay in July 2027, followed by a 1.3 percent wage increase from July 2028, allowing companies with financial difficulties to withhold the one‑off payment. IG Metall rejected the proposal, arguing it would reduce real wages, and called for the industrial action to expand. Strikes are expected to continue throughout the week, with the union planning to release participation figures on Friday. In the previous bargaining round in 2024, more than 100 000 workers took part on peak days. The strikes come amid widespread protests across Europe over cost of living, housing costs and education policy, with demonstrations in Belgium, France, Spain and Germany, where thousands rallied in Berlin and over 30 other cities on Saturday.