Gewerkschaft: IG Metall droht mit „Proteststurm“ bei Aus für 35-Stunden-Woche

The IG Metall union has vehemently rejected the proposal from some companies to abandon the 35-hour workweek ahead of the upcoming tariff negotiations for the metal and electrical industry. Union chief Christiane Benner stated this in a press conference on Wednesday, warning that breaching the "mega-symbol" of the union's three-decade-long struggle would provoke a "protest storm".

A recent survey among nearly 2400 employers revealed that more than half of the businesses assessed their situation as good or very good, indicating a growing recovery. However, nearly half of the surveyed employees favored a moderate increase in wages, while a third supported a significant rise. The IG Metall union expects a difficult negotiation, especially in sectors like auto manufacturing, mining, and aerospace, which are experiencing a crisis with massive job cuts.

Meanwhile, sectors such as aerospace, armaments, and medical technology are booming. The union insists that real wage security is necessary for purchasing power and economic recovery, particularly in the face of rising food prices and future burdens from social security reforms. However, the current structural crisis, compounded by competition from China and US tariffs, has proven insufficient, and the next round of austerity measures is imminent.

The IG Metall union does not consider reducing labor costs a solution, as they only account for about 17% of costs, with only 11% in the auto industry. The union's association of metal and electrical industry employers has been in a recession since spring 2023, marking the longest post-war slowdown. Employment numbers reached their lowest point since before the war in June, with 3.72 million workers.

The IG Metall union considers employment security a key issue in the tariff negotiations, with a broad arsenal of possible downward adjustments available to safeguard jobs. However, they are evaluating whether these measures remain precise enough or if further adjustments are needed. The negotiation schedule begins in regional branches on October 7th, with a second round of negotiations planned for the end of October. A peace obligation could lead to strike warnings starting in November.