German labor union IG Metall said Friday it would seek a 5 percent increase in wages for its 3.4 million members when negotiations begin next month even as big business said the most it would agree to was 1.2 percent. The wage demand was expected after key groups in the union issued their plans earlier this month, and union leader Juergen Peters said it was an affordable measure. But the Gesamtmetall employers' group said 5 percent would be too much for businesses to pay.
See "IG Metall Wants 5 Percent Wage Hike", Associated Press, The New York Times, January 19, 2006