Germany's biggest union is demanding better pay and conditions for its members

Frankfurt (Germany) (AFP) - More than 400,000 workers from sectors ranging from car-making to mechanical engineering joined strikes and rallies across Germany this week calling for better pay and conditions, their union said Friday.

The IG Metall union organised the actions after several rounds of negotiations with employers on behalf of its members ended with no result.

From Sunday to Friday, more than 413,000 workers joined the actions nationwide, which included more than 2,800, mostly small-scale strikes, Germany’s biggest union said.

Workers were “fighting for the future of their families and their jobs,” said IG Metall chief negotiator Nadine Boguslawski.

“They expect a tangible increase in purchasing power as well as concrete commitments… from employers to safeguard industrial value creation and investment.”

Unions had made a “fair and flexible” offer, and the ball was now in the employers’ court, she added.

Talks will continue next week, but the unions are threatening to launch longer walkouts if employers do not meet their demands.

More than 3.7 million workers are covered by IG Metall’s current negotiations.

The union’s demands range from five percent more pay over twelve months, to profit sharing in successful companies and guarantees on jobs.

So far, employers have offered a wage increase of 1.3 percent from mid-2028 and one-off payments.

The health of the companies represented by IG Metall differs widely.

While the auto sector and its suppliers have long been struggling, regularly announcing job cuts and plant closures, other industries such as aerospace and defence tech are booming.