Workers walk out in Saxony-anhalt in pay dispute

The demonstrations began at the AGCO agricultural machinery dealer in the Burgenlandkreis district. Further actions are planned in cities including Magdeburg, Halle, and the Harz region.

The IG Metall union is calling for increased pay, arguing that the current employer offer amounts to a pay cut, is too late, and binds employees for too long. Negotiator Thorsten Gröger stated that the offer does not address how to invest in products and locations or secure jobs in the future.

The union is rejecting proposals that include no increases to salary scales for 2026 and 2027, a one-time payment of 1.0 percent of average annual gross salary in July 2027, a permanent salary increase of 1.3 percent from July 2028, a contract duration of 26 months until the end of 2028, 5 percent more salary with a 12-month contract duration, better consideration of lower salary brackets, contractual regulations to secure jobs and locations, and profit-sharing for employees in particularly successful companies.

The employers’ association M+E stated that this round of negotiations is about saving locations, emphasizing that the industry is facing “the longest and most severe structural crisis since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany.”