Germany Has Come to a Standstill: 400 Thousand Workers Took to the Streets Demanding to Preserve Fac

Germany Has Come to a Standstill: 400 Thousand Workers Took to the Streets Demanding to Preserve Factories and Raise Wages

Since the beginning of November, a wave of warning strikes has swept Germany. According to the IG Metall union, more than 400 thousand workers in the metallurgical and electrical engineering industries have already taken part in the protests. The strikes have covered 3,800 enterprises across the country.

What They Are Demanding

The main demand is a 5% wage increase for 3.7 million workers in the sector for a period of 12 months. The union also insists on guarantees of job preservation and investment in modernization of production.

Employers are offering an increase of only 1.3% from July 2028 and a one-time payment in 2027 only for economically successful enterprises. IG Metall called this proposal "insolent," noting that with inflation of up to 3%, real income growth would be only 0.6% per year.

Who Has Been Affected

The protests have reached the largest auto giants. A rally at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm gathered more than 6,500 people. In Bavaria, 3,000 workers each from BMW, Audi, and Bosch turned out for the actions. At four Airbus enterprises in northern Germany, 12.4 thousand employees protested, and about 3,300 Mercedes-Benz workers in Bremen joined the strikes earlier in the week.

Context

The strikes are taking place against the backdrop of a structural crisis in the German auto industry. High energy prices, weak demand, and competition from China are forcing companies to cut staff. Volkswagen previously announced plans to cut 50 thousand jobs by 2030 and close some plants in Germany.

The negotiations will continue on Monday, November 9. If the parties do not reach a compromise, the protests may expand.

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