HANNOVER/FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The IG BCE trade union is stepping up the pressure ahead of the third round of negotiations for around 585,000 employees in the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry with nationwide actions. "The employees are slowly running out of patience," warned IG BCE collective bargaining chairman Oliver Heinrich on Tuesday. Among other things, the union is demanding a seven percent increase in income. According to the IG BCE, more than 200 events with thousands of participants are planned throughout Germany around the days of action on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week - from rallies to vigils and demonstrations.

On Tuesday, employees at the chemical company Evonik in Hanau and at the supplier and tire manufacturer Continental in Hanover, among others, were called to take action. On Wednesday, demonstrations are to continue, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia and at BASF in Ludwigshafen. According to reports, there was already a rally with around 1000 participants at the pharmaceutical company Merck in Darmstadt on Monday.

The third round of negotiations at federal level is scheduled for June 26 and 27 in Bad Breisig near Bonn. This is the last opportunity to reach a result before the end of the peace period on June 30.

The IG Bergbau Chemie Energie (IG BCE - Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union) justifies its demand for a seven percent pay rise with the loss of purchasing power for employees due to inflation and the recovery of the chemical industry. In addition, the union wants to implement regulations for the first time in a large collective agreement that put union members in a better position than other employees. According to the IG BCE, measurable benefits could include more time off, more money or better social and health protection for union members./mar/DP/jha