IG Metall rallies workers as Bavarian pay talks enter third round

IG Metall has called warning-strike rallies across Bavaria as the region’s metal and electrical industry wage talks enter a third round, BR reported. The union expects more than 15,000 employees at the largest gathering, at Audi’s Piazza in Ingolstadt.

Workers from Audi, Airbus, Wacker Neuson, Scherm and other companies in the region are expected in Ingolstadt. Further rallies are planned in Aschaffenburg, Augsburg, Donauwörth and Nuremberg. Audi’s production lines will be stopped during the rally.

The union is using the strikes to increase pressure on employers. The third round of talks between IG Metall and employers in Bavaria’s metal and electrical industry is beginning in Munich at the same time.

At the previous round on October 27, employers offered a 1.3 per cent pay rise from July 2028, as well as a one-off payment of 1 per cent in July 2027. IG Metall says the offer is insufficient. It is seeking a 5 per cent pay rise and an additional 110 euros in apprentice pay over a 12-month agreement.