22 September, 201085,000 German steel workers and members of IMF affiliate IG Metall start warning strikes in support of their collective bargaining demands for a six per cent wage increase and equal treatment of agency workers.
GERMANY: The decision to start warning strikes was made by IG Metall on September 20 and is in reaction to the steel employers refusing to put in an offer in the collective bargaining negotiations. The first warning strike will start on September 22 and continue throughout this week.
Oliver Burkhard, district leader for IG Metall in North Rhine-Westfalen, strongly criticized the employers' behaviour in the ongoing negotiations. "We need a fair solution and no refusal - this is our principle and we expect this from the employers too. This is the first round during the upswing. So we will show with the warning strikes that we are able and willing to fight for more money, equal conditions for agency workers, and fair conditions for trainees and elderly workers," he said
IG Metall is making several demands:
- A pay raise of six per cent
- The same pay for agency workers as for regular workers
- Easing the burden on elderly workers
The warning strikes will start on September 22 in Salzgitter, Dortmund and continue on September 23 in Duisburg, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Krefeld, Remscheid, Witten and also on September 24 at several locations.