Tens of Thousands of German Auto Workers Protest to Save Jobs
The union said nearly 180,000 workers joined protests at more than 280 sites as automakers warned of plant closures and thousands of job cuts.
- On Friday, Germany's IG Metall union announced it will seek a five percent pay rise for workers in key industrial sectors, aiming to recover purchasing power lost to inflation since 2024.
- German inflation accelerated to 2.9 percent in August, driven by rising energy prices linked to the US war against Iran, which underpins the union's wage push.
- Volkswagen plans to cut 100,000 jobs with the future of four plants unclear, while Mercedes-Benz warned that two plants could close if costs remain uncontrolled.
- Union chief Christiane Benner rejected "rhetoric making out there is a general crisis," stating, "We cannot accept threats of relocating plants," against employer pessimism.
- Automotive supplier Bosch finance boss Markus Forschner expects "give-and-take" in pay talks, distinguishing his firm's approach from broader industry tension as negotiations approach.
185 Articles
185 Articles
German unions are fighting to defend the 35-hour week
But that won’t stop the car industry’s decline
German union demands 5% raise for workers in strained engineering ...
The parties to collective bargaining in the metal industry must now make a contribution to increasing employment, and this has often been achieved so far.
Prices are rising, now wages are to follow: IG Metall wants to enforce significantly more money for 3.7 million employees and has further demands. Employers are appalled.
The IG Metall draws with a clear salary requirement for tens of thousands of employees of the crisisling automaker into the upcoming tariff round. What's new, you read here.
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