Germany’s regional level collective negotiations that are set to start in mid-November for the metals and electro-technical sectors promise to be both challenging and innovative. Challenging because in light of the country’s buoyant economy, Germany’s largest trade union is ready to call for a pay rise of around 6%, and innovative because IG Metall intends to make working time a central theme during the negotiations and secure the possibility for workers to reduce their working time from 35 down to 28 hours per week for a period of two years, thereby freeing up time for workers to take care of children or those in need of care. Formulated on 15 September by the IG Metall regional section wage commissions the proposals are currently under discussion by union affiliates within the companies and the regional union sections.
Better management of working time. According to IG Metall the economic research institutes unanimously agree on the buoyancy of Germany’s economy with orders books flourishing and companies in the metals and electro-technical sectors posting record turnover and profits. “There is no reason why we should hold back,” IG Metall concluded and intends to call for wage rises of the order of 6% for the sector’s workers. Employers see the wage demand as being too high. However the most controversial po
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