IG Metall prepares for first 24-hour strikes since 2018
Germany’s metalworkers’ union wants to increase pressure on employers in collective bargaining talks.
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IG Metall is preparing 24-hour warning strikes for the first time since 2018. The union says negotiations in Germany’s metal and electrical engineering industry are making insufficient progress.
IG Metall’s regional bargaining committees have approved proposals for full-scale warning strikes. The national executive will decide on Thursday how they are to be carried out. This would be an escalation between short work stoppages and an unlimited strike.
According to IG Metall, more than 413,000 workers took part in strikes, demonstrations and other actions during the first week of industrial action. The union cites sites belonging to Mercedes, Audi, Porsche and Airbus, among others. This figure comes from the union and has not been independently verified.
The metal and electrical engineering industry is important to Germany’s automotive, mechanical engineering and supply chains. Longer-running action could therefore affect not only manufacturing companies, but also logistics, component suppliers and exports. The precise economic consequences will depend on the duration and the companies involved.
IG Metall uses 24-hour strikes as a means of applying pressure before an unlimited strike comes into consideration. The union previously used this form of action in 2018. According to IG Metall, the collective bargaining talks are making insufficient progress.
For Dutch companies, the cross-border integration is particularly relevant. German factories supply components and semi-finished goods to Dutch companies, but a short warning strike does not automatically mean that deliveries will stop. The current development is above all a signal that the industrial dispute is entering a more serious phase.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- According to IG Metall, more than 413,000 workers took part in earlier actions, which could increase workers’ bargaining power.
▼ Concerns
- The planned 24-hour actions could disrupt production and supply.
- The scale of the economic damage will depend on the duration and the companies affected.
Critical note
The participation figures come from IG Metall and do not directly indicate how much production has been lost. The financial damage cannot be inferred from the participation figures.
Who notices what
- Workers
- Could exert pressure on collective bargaining talks through longer work stoppages.
- Businesses
- Could face temporary production delays and uncertainty over deliveries.
- Households
- Could feel indirect effects if strikes influence prices, delivery times or employment.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- IG Metall is calling for full-scale warning strikes.
- The strikes follow earlier action in the metal and electrical engineering industry.
- The national executive still has to approve the plans.
Left
Arguments Sees the strike as a necessary means of exerting power to protect wages and job security in industry.
Values Collective bargaining, worker power and income security.
Consequences Emphasises that higher wages can support purchasing power and demand.
Centre
Arguments Recognises the right to take action, but wants to limit escalation and reach a workable collective agreement quickly.
Values Stability, continuity and consultation.
Consequences Warns that prolonged action could disrupt supply chains and investment decisions.
Right
Arguments Emphasises competitiveness and the costs for companies already facing international pressure.
Values Productivity, entrepreneurial freedom and export position.
Consequences Fears that higher labour costs could accelerate the relocation of production to other countries.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The announced escalation and the historical comparison with 2018 have been confirmed by Tagesschau and IG Metall. Participation figures have been identified as figures supplied by the union.
- confirmed IG Metall is preparing 24-hour warning strikes. — IG Metall reports that regional committees have requested this and that the executive will decide. source
- confirmed This is the first use of this form of strike since 2018. — Tagesschau reports that the form was previously used in 2018. source
Editor's note
The decision on specific strike dates still had to be taken by the national executive. The participation figures come from IG Metall itself.Sources
- Metall- und Elektroindustrie: 24-Stunden-Streiks rücken näher — Tagesschau
- Tarifkommission beantragt einstimmig ganztägige Warnstreik — IG Metall Baden-Württemberg
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „ig metall”
- de Volkskrant — „ig metall”
- NU.nl — „ig metall”