The wage conflict in the West German textile and clothing industry has been settled. After massive warning strikes, IG Metall and the employers’ association agreed early on Saturday morning on a combination of permanent wage increases and one-off payments.
“The collective bargaining result means a noticeable relief for employees’ wallets in view of inflation,” says IG Metall negotiator Miriam Bürger. “In addition, the wage result is an important step towards securing the future of the companies: Whether the employees like to stay in the textile and clothing industry in the long term depends on what they have in their wallets at the end of the month.”
The remuneration for the approximately 100,000 employees in the industry will increase by 4.8 percent from October 2023 and by a further 3.3 percent from September 2024. However, the pay will increase by at least EUR 130 in the first step and by at least EUR 100 in the second step, which is why the increase in the lower pay groups is even higher than the agreed 4.8 or 3.3 percent. This also applies to trainees. In addition, the employees receive a tax and duty-free inflation compensation premium of 1,500 euros: 1,000 euros in April or May 2023 and a further 500 euros in April 2024 (apprentices half each).
In addition, partial retirement will be extended and improved. The term of the collective agreement is 24 months. The competent bodies still have to approve the outcome of the negotiations.
The conclusion was successful on the fourth attempt after a long night session. Before that, more than 24,000 employees had taken part in warning strikes for weeks. On the day of the hearing itself, 800 metalworkers demonstrated in front of the negotiation room in Billerbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, in support of their demands. “The result was made possible by the colleagues with their warning strikes. We owe them a big thank you for this commitment,” said IG Metall negotiator Bürger.
The collective bargaining agreement falls on a historic date: Exactly 25 years ago, on April 1, 1998, the textile and clothing unions and IG Metall merged. Since then, the interests of textile workers have been represented by IG Metall.
Source. IG Metall Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, press release from April 1, 2023.
