Tarifkonflikt: Metaller-Warnstreiks nehmen Fahrt auf

In the German metal and electronics industry, the first round of warning strikes has begun amid an ongoing labor dispute involving approximately 3.7 million workers. Immediately following the peace obligation period at midnight on Sunday, employees from various industries, including Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein in Andernach, RF 360 Europe/Qualcomm in Munich, KSM Castings in Hildesheim, and Speira Recycling and Rolling Mill in Hamburg, went on strike.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, a strike action was set to commence in Bielefeld on Sunday evening. The IG Metall union aims to expand these protests nationwide during the week.

The strikes are intended to exert pressure during ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. Industries affected by these temporary work stoppages include automotive manufacturing, machinery production, electronics, and metal fabrication. The union has demanded a 5 percent increase in wages, as well as job and location security, over a twelve-month period.

Employers presented an offer in the second round of negotiations, which included a one-time payment in the upcoming year and a 1.3 percent salary increase in July 2028. This offer was deemed inadequate in light of Germany's challenging economic situation and high production costs.

IG Metall president Christiane Benner warned that "strong warning strikes" would be announced, as employees found the "so-called offer" unacceptable, sparking anger and resentment. According to Jörg Köhlinger, the IG Metall district leader for Middle Germany, the midnight warning strike at Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein in Andernach marks the beginning of a broader warning strike phase.