Ongoing strikes in the public transport and metal industries are escalating as the ver.di union calls for further action this week in response to unsatisfactory wage negotiations. Disruptions are expected for bus and train services across several federal states, affecting around 5,500 employees. Meanwhile, IG Metall demands a seven percent wage increase for its members, reflecting concerns over rising living costs. Demonstrations are gaining momentum, with workers across various sectors advocating for fair wages and improved working conditions.
Ongoing Strikes in Public Transport and Metal Industry
The wage dispute in the public local transport sector (ÖPNV) continues to escalate as the union ver.di has announced further strikes scheduled for this week. This labor unrest is also mirrored in the metal and electrical industries, where tensions are rising as negotiations approach.
Bus and train drivers across several federal states should brace for service disruptions this week. Ver.di has declared new strike actions aimed at intensifying pressure on employers ahead of the crucial negotiation date set for November 11. The union seeks to advocate for better wages and working conditions for its members.
Impacts Across Multiple Federal States
The ongoing wage negotiations for the railway collective agreement (ETV) affect around 5,500 employees across six federal states: Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Stakeholders include various bus companies, local rail services, and freight railways.
“The initial negotiations regrettably reaffirmed that economic pressure often outweighs logical arguments at the negotiation table,” stated Andreas Schackert, a negotiator for ver.di. “As a result, we are compelled to call for warning strikes again this week.” October witnessed numerous strikes across many companies as tensions simmered.
Employers’ association AGVDE proposed a mere three percent wage increase effective April 1, 2025, which ver.di views as insufficient. The union criticized the limited offer of only 600 euros out of a potential 1,300 euros inflation compensation bonus that remains tax-free in collective bargaining.
Meanwhile, IG Metall is pushing for a seven percent wage increase for its approximately 3.9 million members, reflecting the urgent need for better compensation amid rising living costs.
Rising Tensions and Demonstrations
In the metal and electrical sectors, the pressure mounts as warning strikes are implemented across several federal states, including Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Additional protests have emerged in Saxony, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt.
Union leaders emphasize that the demand for a seven percent wage increase is critical to addressing the ongoing high cost of living. Ergun Lümali, chairman of the works council in Sindelfingen, expressed frustration with the employers’ low offers, urging for a more substantial negotiation effort.
Demonstrations have become increasingly prominent, with significant turnouts noted in Bavaria at companies like Linde in Aschaffenburg and VW’s MAN Energy Solutions in Augsburg. Moreover, workers from various sectors in Lower Saxony have also joined the movement, staging protests outside facilities like the Thermo Electron LED plant and more.
In Saxony, the union mobilized employees from companies such as Koenig & Bauer and Auma Drives to participate in warning strikes, while auto suppliers and compressor manufacturers also faced temporary work stoppages. In Saxony-Anhalt, employees from Thyssenkrupp and KSM Castings Group were called to action, with demonstrations planned at factory gates.
With labor disputes intensifying, the call for fair wages and improved working conditions resonates strongly across various industries, highlighting the urgent need for resolution.