FRANKFURT (AFP) – Nearly four million German workers in the key electrical and metalworking sectors will receive pay increases after the country’s biggest trade union struck a deal yesterday with employers.
The agreement hammered out by the IG Metall union averts fresh strikes at a time when Europe’s top economy is struggling and is headed for early elections next year after the collapse of the coalition government. The workers will get a rise totalling 5.5 per cent over two years, according to the deal struck after 18 hours of talks, the union said in a statement. “We have succeeded in achieving a solid result for employees despite difficult conditions,” said IG Metall boss Christiane Benner.
This will come in two stages, with a two-per cent increase from April next year followed by another increase from April 2026, as well as a one-off bonus of EUR600 (USD638).
As is customary with such agreements in Germany, a “pilot” deal was struck in two regions, Kueste and Bavaria, which will serve as a template for the rest of the country.
