STUTTGART (dpa-AFX) - IG Metall is calling on its members to go on warning strikes in the current round of collective bargaining. The union announced on Monday that employees in several companies in the southwest of Germany are to strike on Tuesday. The peace obligation ends at the end of Monday, meaning that warning strikes are possible from Tuesday.

"We will now put pressure on the companies with warning strikes," said district manager Barbara Resch according to the statement. The union expects an improved offer at the next negotiations, which will take place on Thursday in Boblingen.

Car manufacturers and suppliers affected

Companies from the automotive industry will be particularly affected on Tuesday. According to the union, there will be a rally for night shift workers at Porsche in Stuttgart as early as 2.30 am. Later, the early shift is also to strike. Further warning strikes are also planned at Bosch in Reutlingen, ZF in Friedrichshafen and Daimler Buses in Neu-Ulm.

What IG Metall is demanding

The positions of the union and employers were still far apart after the second round of negotiations. IG Metall is demanding seven percent more pay for the 3.9 million employees nationwide with a term of twelve months. The employers are offering two increases of 1.7 and 1.9 percent for a term of 27 months, with the first stage not taking effect until July 2025.

The third round of negotiations is due to begin this Tuesday in the coastal and Lower Saxony bargaining regions. The talks will look at where a rapprochement seems possible. If a pilot district emerges, negotiations will be concluded there on a representative basis. The regional collective agreements for the metal and electrical industry cover several key sectors of German industry, including mechanical engineering and large parts of the automotive industry./rwi/DP/ngu