IG Metall, a German metalworkers’ union, has expressed opposition to the 3.6% pay increase proposed by Nordmetall, the regional employers’ association. Nordmetall represents various major German companies, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Siemens. IG Metall originally demanded a 7% increase in wages for the four million workers in a Northern Germany region. The current offer will increase wages by 1.7% in 2025, and then by 1.9% in 2026. The union has stated that the proposal is too little too late, and will determine its next course of action in the next week. If the union decides to turn down the proposal, workers are set to take strike action starting October 29th.
See "Workers in Northern Germany set to take strike action if union rejects proposed wage increase", Ilona Wissenbach, Alexander Hübner, Reuters, October 15, 2024