Negotiations IG Metall | This is a declaration of war

The metal industry union sees the company's proposals in the second round of collective bargaining as a declaration of war. Photo: dpa/Soeren Stache It is, if anything, a poisonous offer with which the company started the second round of collective bargaining in the metal and electrical industry: 1.3 percent wage increase from July 2028, after 20 months without a wage increase. With a term of 26 months, that’s 0.6 percent per year. At the same time, there is inflation of 3 percent, productivity growth of 1.5 percent, extraordinary profits in aerospace, electrical and medical technology and the defense industry. Even the auto industry is recording profits, albeit lower.

In companies that, according to the company's accounting, are doing well, they want to grant a one-off payment of up to 800 euros in July 2028. They demand measures to reduce medical costs and deviations from the area tariff in companies that, according to their own calculations, report low profits.

All in all, it is a mockery that IG Metall rightly sees as a declaration of war instead of an offer. Since November 1st, the workforce in over 2,000 companies have sent strong signals with the start of the strike from Dresden to Cologne, from Flensburg to Munich and shown that they stand together and behind the union. The expectations of the members of IG Metall: to stop the downward spiral in wages in view of price developments, to make life affordable again and to end the reduction of jobs in industry.

The union would also be well advised, in its own interest, to demand the most obvious means of securing jobs, a reduction in working hours. More wages secure purchasing power and domestic demand, and the four-day week secures jobs.

“One strike is worth more than a thousand training courses,” said Willi Bleicher, the legendary district manager of IG Metall from Baden-Württemberg. This applies if the strike is successful; This also applies if the fight is lost. In any case, a wage increase below the inflation rate and productivity development and no end to the workforce reductions would be a disappointment.

The willingness of the workers to fight is as high as their expectations. However, they will not win this class dispute on their own. This fight should be won with practical support from the DGB unions, social associations and the left, with comprehensive mobilization and solidarity.

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