3,7 Millionen Beschäftigte: Inflation und Autokrise: Metall-Tarifrunde wird kompliziert

This week's regional negotiations over the metal and electronics industry's wage conditions will be more than just about salary increases. IG Metall and employers are negotiating the future of the industrial heart of Europe's largest economy, affected by international crises and rising inflation, which impacts around 3.7 million employees in sectors like automotive, machinery manufacturing, electrical engineering, or arms production.

The union's demand is for a 5% salary increase over a year, aiming to counteract inflation's growth. The IG Metall's president, Christiane Benner, stresses the need to secure jobs and locations due to possible factory closures. The union also wants employees in what it calls "boom companies" to share in profits. The previous negotiation in 2021 resulted in a 5.1% increase over 25 months.

Employers, however, argue that there is no room for distribution due to increased deindustrialization and high labor costs, and they are eager to cut costs and save their locations. The automotive industry, particularly the German car maker Mercedes-Benz, is demanding a return to a 40-hour week without wage adjustments, while the automotive sector is struggling due to strong competition from China and sales problems.

Meanwhile, the machine sector is struggling, but the electrical industry and other vehicle manufacturing are doing well, especially with defense-related special growth. The negotiations will begin in regional rounds on Wednesday, starting with the southwest and North Rhine-Westphalia districts. If a pilot district shows progress, the negotiations will extend to others.

The last time a local negotiation took place was in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2024. Strikes are likely, with IG Metall ready to mobilize its members for a warning strike as the current contracts expire on October 31st.