German metalworkers strike as the IG Metall pay dispute escalates

Workers covered by the dispute

3.7 million workers

Germany's largest union, IG Metall, launched a wave of strikes Monday in a wage dispute covering about 3.7 million workers in the metal and electrical engineering industries.

IG Metall

A 5% pay rise

Employers

1% one-off, then 1.3%

The union wants a 5 per cent raise, while employers offer a one-off payment of 1 per cent of pay in July 2027 and a 1.3 per cent raise from July 2028, which IG Metall calls a pay cut in real terms.

Manufacturers affected

Audi
Mercedes-Benz
Tata Steel

Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Tata Steel were among the manufacturers hit, and the strikes are expected to continue all week.

The walkouts follow protests across Europe over the cost of living, with thousands rallying in Berlin and more than 30 other German cities on Saturday.

Economy · 1 d ago

German metalworkers strike as the IG Metall pay dispute escalates

Germany's largest union, IG Metall, launched a wave of strikes Monday in a wage dispute covering about 3.7 million workers in the metal and electrical engineering industries.

The union wants a 5 per cent raise, while employers offer a one-off payment of 1 per cent of pay in July 2027 and a 1.3 per cent raise from July 2028, which IG Metall calls a pay cut in real terms.

Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Tata Steel were among the manufacturers hit, and the strikes are expected to continue all week.

The walkouts follow protests across Europe over the cost of living, with thousands rallying in Berlin and more than 30 other German cities on Saturday.

German metalworkers strike as the IG Metall pay dispute escalates

Also read