German metal workers step up strikes in pay dispute

FRANKFURT, Nov 2 (Reuters) - ‌Strikes ​gathered ​pace across Germany's metal and electrical engineering industry on Monday, with ‌workers at companies including Audi, Mercedes-Benz and ⁠Tata Steel downing tools as the IG ‌Metall union stepped up ‌pressure in a pay dispute affecting 3.7 million employees.

- Germany's largest industrial union ​is demanding a 5% wage increase from November, measures to safeguard jobs ⁠and production sites, and profit-sharing mechanisms in sectors performing ​strongly.

- The stoppage follows a second-round employer offer that the union has ​dismissed as effectively a ‌pay cut in real terms.

- Employers have proposed a one-off payment ⁠of 1% in July 2027 and a 1.3% wage increase from July 2028. The ⁠proposal would also allow financially troubled companies to ​withhold the one-off payment.

- The strikes are due to continue throughout the week, with IG Metall ‌planning to publish participation figures on Friday. During the previous bargaining ‌round in 2024, more than 100,000 ⁠workers joined strike ‌actions on peak ​days.

(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, Writing by Friederike Heine; editing by Matthias ‌Williams)

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