More than 400,000 German workers take action for higher pay

Over 400,000 German workers across various sectors, from car manufacturing to mechanical engineering, staged strikes and rallies nationwide this week, demanding higher wages and better working conditions, according to the IG Metall union. These actions followed several unsuccessful rounds of negotiations with employers.

From Sunday to Friday, more than 413,000 workers participated in the protests, with over 2,800 events, mostly small-scale strikes, reported by Germany's largest union. The workers were fighting for their families' and jobs' futures, stated IG Metall chief negotiator Nadine Boguslawski. They sought tangible increases in purchasing power and concrete commitments from employers to protect industrial value creation and investment.

The unions had presented a fair and flexible offer, placing the responsibility on employers to meet their demands, Boguslawski added. Talks were set to continue the following week, but unions threatened to escalate to longer walkouts if employers failed to comply.

The IG Metall union represents more than 3.7 million workers. Their demands included a 5% pay rise over twelve months, profit sharing in successful companies, and job security guarantees. So far, employers have offered a 1.3% wage increase from mid-2028 and one-off payments. The economic health of the industries represented by IG Metall varies, with the automotive sector and its suppliers facing ongoing difficulties, including job cuts and plant closures, while sectors like aerospace and defense technology are thriving.