Major Industrial Strikes Begin in Germany

Workers in Germany are demanding higher wages amid rising inflation.

The German trade union IG Metall initiated strikes in the country’s metal and electrical industries on Tuesday, aiming to secure higher wages, according to German media. These actions come amid growing concerns about the health of the EU’s largest manufacturing economy.

As reported by the tabloid Bild, employees began walking off the job during the night shift, including at Volkswagen’s plant in Osnabruck, where workers are apprehensive about a potential plant closure.

In Hanover, Lower Saxony, approximately 200 employees at the battery manufacturer Clarios went on strike, carrying torches and union flags, according to Bild.

Meanwhile, around 400 employees in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, including those at Jensen GmbH, KSM Castings Group, Robert Bosch, Waggonbau Graaff, and ZF CV Systems Hannover, have reportedly ceased operations.

Protests are also anticipated at BMW and Audi plants in Bavaria. The tabloid reported that work will be halted nationwide throughout the day.

“The fact that production lines are now at a standstill and offices are empty is the responsibility of the employers,” stated IG Metall’s negotiator and district manager Thorsten Groger, as quoted by Deutsche Welle.

IG Metall is seeking a 7% pay raise, compared to the 3.6% raise offered by employers’ associations over a period of 27 months, citing soaring inflation. The companies deem such demands unrealistic.

These mass strikes follow Volkswagen’s announcement on Monday that it would close “at least” three of its ten plants in Germany, lay off tens of thousands of employees, and downsize remaining plants in the country. These measures are part of a cost-cutting drive, the conglomerate stated earlier. Oliver Blume, chief executive of the VW Group, attributed the decision to a “difficult economic environment” and “failing competitiveness of the German economy.”

The German Association of the Automotive Industry warned last year that the country was “dramatically losing its international competitiveness” due to soaring energy costs.

A recent survey by the VDA auto industry association suggested that the reshuffling of the German car industry could result in 186,000 job losses by 2035, approximately a quarter of which have already occurred.