The employer side has been negotiating with the union about a collective labor agreement in the metal sector for more than eight weeks. The fronts are extremely hardened. While the unions had announced an intensification of the strikes on Monday, the employers’ side appeared ready to negotiate on Wednesday, but also issued a clear warning: “It is clear that the strikers will not receive any wages for the period of the work stoppage. The unions are responsible for that. In any case, this means lost wages for the strikers!”
When it comes to the current wave of strikes, the employer side is certainly taking a clear position. “We are fighting the strikes with all the means at our disposal. Any form of impermissible obstruction or blockage will be reported,” Stefan Ehrlich-Adám (negotiator for the FMTI) emphasized at a press conference on Wednesday.
The unions must also actively communicate that there is a loss of wages for strikers, “so that employees do not get a nasty surprise when the payroll comes in at the end of the month.”
“Our offer stands, we are ready to negotiate at any time”
Christian Knil (Chairman of the Metal Technology Industry Association) added: “We will not be impressed by further strikes and violent demonstrations. We can only find a solution at the negotiating table, not on the street and not on the shop floor. The general conditions are very difficult and the recession leaves us little room for maneuver. Our offer stands and we remain ready to negotiate at any time, including before November 30.”
Employers offer an average wage increase of 8.2%
Ehrlich-Adám also appeared willing to negotiate in the fight for a KV qualification: “We continue to offer an average wage increase of 8.2 percent; for the lower labor groups this would mean up to 12 percent higher wages. This is a fair and balanced proposal. With the current inflation rate of 5.4 percent, this deal would significantly increase the purchasing power of many employees. The actions of the unions are irresponsible, endanger jobs and damage the location.”
The employers find it ‘grotesque’ that the unions are striking for an increase in the KV, while three out of four employees would already receive a wage increase of 11.6 percent according to the sector’s proposals. “The workers are striking for higher incomes,” Ehrlich-Adám said.
KV continues to apply
At the same time, Ehrlich-Adám pointed out that the collective labor agreement is valid for an indefinite period. “So there are no time restrictions, and current wages and salaries are also not affected by the negotiations. However, it is conceivable that in the event of continued trade union blockades, the FMTI will recommend that companies rely on corporate solutions to support their employees.” At the same time, he and Knill referred to the difficult and complex preconditions of this annual wage round.
Industry recession
The entire sector is currently in recession, and the metal technology industry is also being hit hard. “In the first half of 2023, it recorded a production decline of around 6 percent and incoming orders even fell by 18 percent. Nearly a third company expects a loss this year. The general economic climate is also negative,” Knill emphasizes.
According to him, more than 85 percent of companies consist of family businesses and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), which employ an average of 100 people. “Their economic development is correspondingly different, and we must take this into account in the KV negotiations. We cannot use the most successful companies as a benchmark, but must include all companies in the industry, with their very different requirements and challenges,” says Knill.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
