Germany’s prominent IG Metall trade union is set to hold demonstrations in over 200 locations nationwide on September 21, protesting job cuts and demands placed on workers in the automotive sector. Union leader Christiane Benner emphasized that workers are facing unprecedented pressures in this crisis.
A major point of contention is the push for an increase in the working week from the collectively bargained 35 hours to a 40-hour week without a corresponding salary increase. Jens Schäfer, works council chairman at ZF automotive supplier, highlighted that this change would equate to five additional unpaid hours weekly, exacerbating worker dissatisfaction and potentially leading to more job losses.
Benner pointed out that employees have already made significant sacrifices, including wage concessions and cuts to agreements, yet companies continue to issue dividends while management remains unaccountable for previous errors. IG Metall aims to mobilize over 100,000 participants, with various disruptive activities planned, such as internal meetings, active lunch breaks, and rallying marches.
