3.6% increase. Obtained after warning strikes that mobilized over 15,000 employees, the agreement is a real pay improvement for the 85,000 workers of steel businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia, low Saxony and Bremen (including ThyssenKrupp, Salzgitter, and ArcelorMittal). They will receive a single €150 bonus in September. Then, they will get a 3.6% wage increase after October 1st. Besides, apprentices will get €40 more each month. The agreement is valid until the end of October 2011, i.e. a total of 14 months. The duration of the agreement somewhat smoothed employers, who consider that this increase is excessive since the economic situation is still unstable. However, Helmut F. Koch, negotiator for employers, said that, with the recovery and the sector’s good results, it “wasn’t possible to sign a moderate agreement.” After taking the crisis hard, German blast furnaces are now working at 90% of their capacities and short-time working is almost completely gone.
and Bremen (including ThyssenKrupp, Salzgitter, and ArcelorMittal). They will receive a single €150 bonus in September. Then, they will get a 3.6% wage increase after October 1st. Besides, apprentices will get €40 more each month. The agreement is valid until the end of October 2011, i.e. a total of 14 months. The duration of the agreement somewhat smoothed employers, who consider that this increase is excessive since the economic situation is still unstable. However, Helmut F. Koch, nego
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