Germany: IG-Metall aks for a 5% rise in wages

The branch of metallurgy and electronics, which employs some 3,4 million people in Germany, should be affected by an important wage conflict soon. Taking up the recommendations made by its regional tariff commissions, the direction of IG-Metall announced, Friday January 20, its claims for the wage negotiations to come. The trade union is thus demanding a 5% rise in wages for 2006, a collective agreement on permanent training and innovation, as well as a collective agreement on advantages being added to wages. (Ref. 0653)