German unions expand strikes demanding higher wages and job security

IG Metall, Germany’s largest union, has broadened a wave of strikes that began on Monday, targeting roughly 3.7 million employees in the country’s metal and electrical engineering sectors.

The walkouts hit major manufacturers including Audi, Mercedes‑Benz and Tata Steel, as the union pushes for a 5 % wage increase and measures to safeguard jobs, production sites and profit‑sharing in strong‑performing sectors.

Employers countered with a proposal that includes a one‑off payment equal to 1 % of pay in July 2027 and a 1.3 % wage rise starting July 2028. The offer also allows companies facing financial strain to withhold the one‑off payment.

IG Metall dismissed the proposal, arguing it would amount to a real‑terms pay cut, and called for the industrial action to be expanded.

Strikes are expected to continue throughout the week, and the union said it will publish participation numbers on Friday. In the previous bargaining round in 2024, more than 100,000 workers took part on peak days.

The labour unrest in Germany adds to a broader wave of European protests over cost‑of‑living pressures, housing costs and education policy, which have also sparked demonstrations in Belgium, France and Spain.

Over the weekend, thousands rallied in Berlin and in more than 30 other German cities, underscoring the growing discontent across the continent.