German metalworkers launch strike action after talks fail

In Hamburg, the IG Metall union initiated its first warning strikes on Sunday morning, with employees at the Speira recycling and rolling mill among those who laid down their tools. Further strikes are planned for Sunday evening and Monday.

The union has announced that workers at Still, ArcelorMittal, Philips in Hamburg, and Krones in Flensburg will also be participating in the work stoppages.

The IG Metall rejected the employers’ offer during recent wage negotiations, foreshadowing the strike action. Daniel Friedrich, the union’s chief negotiator, stated that the proposal would constitute a “hard blow” for employees, particularly given the current inflation rate of 3.3 percent.

Employers had proposed a one-time payment of €700, effective July 1, 2027, followed by a 1.3 percent wage increase a year later.

The union entered negotiations seeking a 5 percent increase in wages and compensation for apprentices. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for November 6 in Bremen.

The IG Metall Küste represents a total of 130,000 employees across Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, and northwestern Lower Saxony.