Frankfurt (Germany) (AFP) - More than 400,000 workers in sectors ranging from car manufacturing to mechanical engineering participated in strikes and demonstrations across Germany this week to demand better wages and working conditions, their union said Friday.
First modification: 06/11/2026 - 18:39
The IG Metall union organized the protests after several rounds of negotiations with employers on behalf of its members ended without results.
Between Sunday and Friday, more than 413,000 workers took part in actions across the country, which included more than 2,800 strikes, mostly small-scale, Germany's largest union said.
The workers were "fighting for the future of their families and their jobs," said Nadine Boguslawski, IG Metall's chief negotiator.
"They expect a tangible increase in their purchasing power, as well as concrete commitments from employers to protect industrial value creation and investments."
The unions had presented a "fair and flexible" proposal, and now the ball was in the employers' court, he added.
Negotiations will continue next week, but unions are threatening to call longer strikes if employers do not accept their demands.
More than 3.7 million workers are included in the current IG Metall negotiations.
The union's demands range from a 5% wage increase for twelve months to participation in the profits of companies with good results and employment guarantees.
Until now, employers have offered a 1.3% pay increase from mid-2028 and one-time extraordinary payments.
The situation of the companies represented by IG Metall varies considerably.
While the automotive sector and its suppliers have long been struggling, regularly announcing job cuts and plant closures, other industries, such as aerospace and defense technology, are booming.
© 2026 AFP
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