German Engineering Workers Launch Wage Strikes

Workers in Germany’s engineering industry began temporary warning strikes on Sunday amid an ongoing wage dispute between employees and employers. Around 3.7 million workers are seeking a 5% pay increase over 12 months as the country’s industrial sector faces growing challenges, particularly due to the crisis in the automotive industry.

The first walkout began at midnight at Thyssenkrupp’s Rasselstein unit, involving around 300 employees and workers from nearby companies, according to the IG Metall union. The union rejected the employers’ latest wage proposal, describing it as a real-terms pay cut. Employers had offered a one-time payment equivalent to 1% of annual gross wages in summer 2027, followed by a 1.3% increase from July 2028.

IG Metall warned that the initial strike was only the beginning of a wider industrial action campaign. Further warning strikes are expected across Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Thuringia in the coming days. The dispute highlights growing tensions over wages and purchasing power as German engineering companies navigate economic and industry-wide pressures.

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