german metalworkers start strikes for 28hour week
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

German metalworkers start strikes for 28-hour week

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today German metalworkers start strikes for 28-hour week

Short walkouts are part of the German wage negotiation ritual but this time things could get more serious
Berlin - Al Maghrib Today

 

 

Germany's powerful metalworkers union has called for mass strikes from Monday over pay and working hours that could impact a key industry and the shape of labour nationwide.

IG Metall aren't just asking for a pay rise but also demanding the right for workers to temporarily switch to a 28-hour week to care for children or elderly relatives.

Employers say such a drastic change would be illegal and have threatened to go to court to stop the industrial action.

 

If the two sides can't agree on the terms of the negotiation by late January, the stage could be set for longer, more damaging walkouts.

So-called "warning strikes" are a familiar feature of the annual collective bargaining process, with workers downing tools for a few hours to demonstrate at factory gates and in town squares.

But there has been no nationwide, open-ended strike in Germany since 2003.

IG Metall expects up to 700,000 to participate in the ritual, running for at least a week from Monday.

Strikes will stretch from Germany's "rust belt" in western North Rhine-Westphalia state to Brandenburg, Saxony and Berlin in the former communist east and the hyper-modern car factories of southwestern Baden-Wuerttemberg.

At luxury carmaker Porsche, a Volkswagen subsidiary, workers flexed their muscles last week with a Thursday walkout.

- Trailblazers -

Boasting some 2.3 million members, IG Metall is Europe's largest trade union, representing workers of all kinds in industrial conglomerates like Siemens or Thyssenkrupp, steelmaking, the auto industry, electronics and textiles.

The sheer weight of the metal and electrical industries' 3.9 million workers often draws other sectors along in its wake when it comes to pay deals -- and 2018's showdown could make for massive changes.

Unions are demanding a pay rise of 6 percent this year.

While the figure is triple bosses' initial offer of 2 percent, it is a classic starting position to wring out a compromise, if necessary urged along with further bouts of industrial action.

But some employee leaders are outraged at the response to their other headline demand -- the right for workers to switch from 35 to 28 hours per week for up to two years, with the employer paying some of the salary shortfall and guaranteeing the right to return to full-time work.

Employers fear up to two-thirds of workers could be eligible, leaving factory floors bare and prompting a new administrative tangle.

And they argue that the change would be unfair to those who have already taken a pay cut when switching to part-time.

After an autumn round of talks failed, the next step could be full-scale strikes.

The Gesamtmetall employers' federation blasted the demands and any industrial action workers take to achieve them as outright "illegal", threatening to take the question to court.

- While the sun shines -

Industry leaders in metal and electricals -- key sectors for Germany that are in otherwise rude health -- are keen to avoid a drawn-out industrial dispute.

"In general, strikes are not an appropriate means to resolve salary disputes. They hurt exports, and thereby the company and in the end the employees," said Bertram Brossardt, head of the employers' association for the sector in southern state Bavaria.

With the German economy pumped up by strong exports and domestic demand, a labour market swept clean of skilled workers, and low inflation, most of the cards appear to be in IG Metall's hand going into the talks.

Source: AFP

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

german metalworkers start strikes for 28hour week german metalworkers start strikes for 28hour week

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

german metalworkers start strikes for 28hour week german metalworkers start strikes for 28hour week

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today The Rake announces editorial updates

GMT 10:46 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

The Rake announces editorial updates
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Europe brings on charm and blue skies

GMT 11:51 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Europe brings on charm and blue skies
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today For the Variety of Interior Design Styles

GMT 10:46 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

For the Variety of Interior Design Styles
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today US Christian tourists see deep meaning

GMT 13:44 2018 Monday ,22 January

US Christian tourists see deep meaning
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 10:03 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 15:17 2017 Thursday ,17 August

Three airlines jostling for Air Berlin assets: CEO

GMT 05:38 2017 Thursday ,06 April

ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum sign Cyprus gas deal

GMT 02:41 2016 Saturday ,24 December

Oil dips before holiday week; Libyan output boost weighs

GMT 11:31 2014 Thursday ,14 August

Kanye West's new single 'All Day' leaks online

GMT 10:43 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Volkswagen clinches record sales

GMT 08:27 2018 Friday ,05 January

US warns Iran to be held to account

GMT 09:17 2017 Saturday ,23 December

Ugandan army says it attacked rebel camps

GMT 01:57 2017 Saturday ,21 January

In Libya, Daesh down but not out

GMT 05:51 2012 Wednesday ,18 January

Shireen’s latest out soon

GMT 08:56 2017 Thursday ,26 October

Workplace harassment blights industries across board

GMT 17:51 2017 Wednesday ,25 October

Maxwell says refused service over kneeling for anthem

GMT 17:53 2016 Wednesday ,20 April

OIC slams Netanyahu 's statements on Golan Heights

GMT 14:41 2016 Tuesday ,19 January

2 Daesh members killed in Libya's Derna

GMT 21:51 2016 Monday ,29 February

Airstrike targets suspected Daesh convoy in Libya

GMT 21:18 2016 Tuesday ,15 November

Rare suicide attack south of Baghdad kills 8

GMT 17:56 2015 Thursday ,27 August

US journalist killings revive gun control debate
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday