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28 March, 2000The 2.9 million-strong German metalworkers' union has called off warning strikes for western Germany after negotiators reached an agreement in 11th hour talks.
GERMANY: The 2000 bargaining round for the metal and electro industry has produced good results for the IMF's German affiliate, IG Metall. On March 28, a two-year settlement was agreed in the key industrial district of North Rhine-Westphalia in which IG Metall achieved its aim of retirement possibility at 60 and pay increases of 3 percent from May 1, 2000, and another 2.1 per cent from May 1, 2001. It is expected that the deal, still tentative, will be applied throughout western Germany to IG Metall's membership.
With the inflation rate currently at 1.9 per cent, the rise in wages and salaries offers a significant increase in real income for workers.
The "employment bridge", or IG Metall's plan to give older workers the option to retire early and thus the perspective of creating jobs for the young and unemployed, will allow some 370,000 workers to retire at 60. Workers aged 57 will already be able to enroll in part-time work.
Concerning apprenticeships, as of May 1, 2001, once apprentices have successfully completed their training programmes, their job guarantee will be extended from the present six months to twelve months.
Klaus Zwickel, IG Metall president, declared that, with this agreement, "we have made a considerable contribution towards reducing unemployment. This will create jobs for the young and give a new perspective for jobs to those who until now have been unemployed."
Warning strikes of one hour were nevertheless called today, March 29, throughout eastern Germany where the union is pressing for wages equivalent to those in the western part of the country.
With the inflation rate currently at 1.9 per cent, the rise in wages and salaries offers a significant increase in real income for workers.
The "employment bridge", or IG Metall's plan to give older workers the option to retire early and thus the perspective of creating jobs for the young and unemployed, will allow some 370,000 workers to retire at 60. Workers aged 57 will already be able to enroll in part-time work.
Concerning apprenticeships, as of May 1, 2001, once apprentices have successfully completed their training programmes, their job guarantee will be extended from the present six months to twelve months.
Klaus Zwickel, IG Metall president, declared that, with this agreement, "we have made a considerable contribution towards reducing unemployment. This will create jobs for the young and give a new perspective for jobs to those who until now have been unemployed."
Warning strikes of one hour were nevertheless called today, March 29, throughout eastern Germany where the union is pressing for wages equivalent to those in the western part of the country.