Metal workers vote to strike in eastern Germany
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Metal and electronics workers demanding higher pay voted overwhelming to hold the first big strike in eastern Germany since the 1930s, the union announced yesterday, AP reports from Berlin. Union officials were to start meeting today to decide on the timing of the strike that would take some 71,000 workers off their jobs as early as next week. The action could be crucial to labour relations and the economy in eastern Germany, which is staggering under a 17 per cent unemployment rate.
The strike authorisation vote attracted over 95 per cent of eligible members of the IG Metall union in eastern Germany, where employers have unilaterally broken a deal signed in 1991 to phase in West German pay scales.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments