Germany’s Largest Labor Union Pushes for 7% Boost in Wages

  • Bargaining in metal, electric industry starts in September
  • Employer suggestion for zero pay increase are ‘disrespectful’

An employee at a logistics center in Haiger, Germany. 

Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
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Germany’s largest labor union is seeking a wage increase of 7% for about 3.9 million workers in the metal and electric parts industries to make up for steep consumer-price gains over past years.

The recommendation by IG Metall’s executive board would cover a period of 12 months and follow a deal in 2022 that lifted compensation by 8.5%. In the run-up to Monday’s announcement, employer association Suedwestmetall had argued against raising pay at all.