Germany: a 3.5% raise for building workers

The IG BAU, the building union, agreed this weekend with the central union of building companies (ZDB) on a 3.5%wage increase for almost 700,000 employees. It is the second large wage settlement this year after the chemistry sector. (Ref. 070301)
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After 17 hours of negotiation, the sector’s social partners finally agreed on a total 3.5% increase for the 700,000 building workers. At the beginning of 2007, IG BAU had asked for a 5.5% increase given the good economic conjuncture in the sector in 2006 (+ 7% in sales.) As for managers, they had called for wage temperance, reminding that growth predictions for 2007 were limited at 2%. In 2006, the BTS sector had indeed beneficiated from the numerous building contracts thanks to the soccer w

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