Union calls for 'warning strike' at Siemens Gamesa's German offshore wind turbine factory
Strike also to affect Prysmian unit as metal workers' union increases pressure in collective bargaining for higher wages in metals and electronic industries
Germany’s powerful metal workers union IG Metall has called for a ‘warning strike’ Wednesday at Siemens Gamesa’s huge offshore wind turbine factory in the northern port town of Cuxhaven as part of a collective bargaining campaign for higher wages in the industry.
The strike will start at noon local time in the parking space before the factory gates, but the union didn’t say how long it would last. Warning strikes in Germany usually last only a couple of hours, or one shift, and are used to prove a general willingness to strike in support of demands.
The union also called for a warning strike at Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke, a unit of Italian cable maker Prysmian, which produces cables for offshore wind grid links.
IG Metall claims that hundreds of thousands of employees in the wider metals and electronics sector in the first week of warning strikes have already put pressure on ongoing collective bargaining. Warning strikes took place today as well at a series of industrial companies such as Siemens Mobility or Mercedes.
"With their strong commitment to warning strikes, the employees in individual regions have brought some initial movement into the talks," said Nadine Boguslawski, a collective bargaining board member at IG Metall.
"However, the employers are still blocking fundamental issues such as a 7% [salary] increase for more purchasing power and €170 more for trainees. That is damaging. That is why the warning strikes must continue."
The company was cautious in a first reaction to the strike threat.
"We hope that the negotiations will quickly achieve a result that is acceptable to all parties."
Employers in the sector so far have offered a 3.6% increase in two stages over 27 months. Consumer price inflation in Germany currently runs at 2%.