German workers staged warning strikes for the second day, in an effort to convince companies to offer higher wage increases. The workers, who are represented by the IG Metall union, are asking for a wage increase of 6.5%. The companies say that the increase is too high, but unions are pointing to the unemployment rate, which at 6.7% is the lowest since 1998. The strikes come a day before May Day. Negotiations are scheduled to continue next week.
See "German Metal Workers Strike For Second Day, Vow Bigger Walkouts", Tom Fairless, The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2012