Metallers in Lower Saxony take over Southwest collective bargaining agreement

Created: 11/25/2022, 3:38 p.m

A metalworker at a demonstration for higher wages.

© Jens Büttner/dpa/symbol image

After several other regions, Lower Saxony's metal and electrical industry has also adopted the collective bargaining agreement from the southwest in the central points.

This means that employees in the industry will receive significantly higher wages in the next two years.

During their final negotiations in Hanover, IG Metall and the Niedersachsen-Metall association agreed on a new collective agreement until the end of September 2024, as the interlocutors said on Friday afternoon.

Hanover - The core of the package corresponds to the pilot agreement in Baden-Württemberg from last week.

It therefore provides for increases in wages and training allowances in two stages: by 5.2 percent as of June 1, 2023 and by a further 3.3 percent as of May 1, 2024. As in other tariff areas, there should also be a tax and duty-free " Inflation Compensation Premium” totaling 3,000 euros.

IG Metall had demanded noticeable surcharges in order to stabilize purchasing power and consumption in the midst of record inflation.

Most recently, however, the inflation rate had climbed above the agreed wage plus, so that the bottom line could still be losses in real wages in many places.

The union called on politicians to take further steps to provide additional relief for consumers and companies.

From the point of view of companies in the metal and electrical industry, the collective bargaining agreement is at the extreme limit of what is manageable.

They campaigned for opening clauses for companies that were particularly affected.

Warning strikes had been going on for several weeks because IG Metall had accused the employers' camp of being too hesitant.

dpa