Kreis Herford: The Next Strikes in the Metal and Electrical Industry Are Likely

IG Metall has announced a warning strike in the metal and electrical industry in East Westphalia.

Around 10,000 employees from 200 companies in the districts of Herford, Minden-Lübbecke and Lippe are to stop work on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

IG Metall announced on Monday that it had called for a warning strike in the metal and electrical industry in East Westphalia.

Around 10,000 employees from 200 companies in the districts of Herford, Minden-Lübbecke and Lippe are to stop work on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The union justifies this with the lack of progress in the current collective bargaining round.

IG Metall is demanding an 8% pay increase for the approximately 3.9 million employees in the metal and electrical industry.

The employers had rejected this in the last round of negotiations.

They offered a 3% increase in two stages and a one-off payment of 3,000 euros.

IG Metall considers this offer to be insufficient.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Wednesday.

IG Metall district manager Daniel Friedrich said:

"The employers are not willing to negotiate seriously."

"That's why we're now taking the next step and calling for a warning strike."

He appealed to the employers to submit a better offer.

The employers' association Gesamtmetall criticized the warning strike.

Main negotiator Stefan Wolf said:

"IG Metall is escalating the conflict unnecessarily."

"The employers have made a substantial offer."

He called on IG Metall to return to the negotiating table and to refrain from further industrial action.

It remains to be seen how the warning strike will affect the ongoing collective bargaining round.

IG Metall has already announced that it is prepared to take further industrial action if necessary.

The employers, on the other hand, have so far ruled out large-scale strikes.