Germany: open strike in industrial cleaning

For a global 8.7% wage increase. An IG BAU spokesman told Planet Labor that the strike won’t take place at the same time or in all businesses, it will be “flexible and unpredictable.” It will affect some businesses for a few days and then others. To those who say that this strike will have little impact because only 10% of employees in the sector are union members, he answered: “We have 57,000 members, and that’s enough to defend our stand.” Engaged in negotiations with employers since January, the IG BAU demands an 8.7% wage increase over a year, an increase of supplementary company pensions and equal pay in east and west Länder (see our dispatch No. 090878). “20 years after the fall of the wall, the gap between east and west pay still amounts to 20%” the spokesman denounced, urging employers to come back to the negotiating table.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

union members, he answered: “We have 57,000 members, and that’s enough to defend our stand.” Engaged in negotiations with employers since January, the IG BAU demands an 8.7% wage increase over a year, an increase of supplementary company pensions and equal pay in east and west Länder (see our dispatch No. 090878). “20 years after the fall of the wall, the gap between east and west pay still amounts to 20%” the spokesman denounced, urging employers to come back to the negotiating table.

Employer

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
United Kingdom: trade unions can now use electronic and workplace voting
The news. The provisions of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 authorising electronic and workplace voting for trade union ballots came into force on Tuesday, 25 August. They apply to trade union...
Netherlands: Uber fined over 800 million euros for automated algorithmic decisions
The news. In a decision dated 17 August, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined ride-hailing company Uber €825 million for automating decisions regarding driver account deactivations. The...
Portugal: open consultation on the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive
The news. On 5 August 2026, the Portuguese government published a document proposing a draft text to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive as the basis for a public consultation open until...
EU: the Commission will set up an Expert Group on the impact of AI in the world of work
The news. On 22 July 2026, the European Commission published a progress report on the EU-27’s achievements regarding the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, reinforced by the...