Germany's biggest labor union, IG Metall, said Monday it planned to seek a pay increase of 5 percent next year for its 3.4 million members when it enters wage talks with employers. Current contracts for German engineering workers are set to expire at the end of February. German companies have announced a series of massive layoffs this year, citing the need to pare high labor costs and become more competitive.
See "IG Metall Union Is a Seeking Pay Increase", Associated Press, The New York Times, December 11, 2005