Union threatens strikes at DaimlerChrysler, Porsche, Bosch
German
engineering union IG Metall will
start "warning strikes" at DaimlerChrylser, Porsche and Bosch plants in southwestern Germany, beginning March
1. Such token job actions by German unions are often used as a bargaining lever with companies before launching
full-blown strikes.
IG Metall is currently in negotiations with employers, calling for a 5-percent wage
increase that has so far been rejected by the companies involved. IG Metall represents some 3.4 million workers.
Labor unrest is building in Germany, which is in the midst of a massive public sector strike in protest of a
proposal by German states to increase the work week from 38.5 hours to 40 hours.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Leo 4:36PM (2/28/2006)
Oh that makes sense... The European automotive market is shrinking and Asian competition is gobbling up their market share... so let's kill job security for our members by having candy-ass strikes here & there. All over 90 minutes a week.
As if we ever doubted the total selfishness (and lack of intelligence) of labor unions!
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MattS 5:05PM (2/28/2006)
It's worked so well for the US unions.....
m
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Gardiner Westbound 5:52PM (2/28/2006)
A union with 3.4-million members is a big mother of a union. They can't all work in the automobile industry. Regardless, I imagine a union that big gets what it wants.
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Ed 6:50PM (2/28/2006)
Hey, it's not like management isn't selfish. I sincerely doubt their employer runs its business like a charity, so why should the employees?
Management gets a pat on the back when they're selfish and looking after the bottom line. I'm ready to pat the workers on the back for looking out for #1, even if they're unsuccessful in getting what they want. It's like a court case - both sides deserve someone looking out for them, even though one of them is going to lose. I don't understand why the workers get flak for being "selfish" whenever they don't do everything their employer wants. Look how well that attitude worked in America, where the average non-executive is working, what, about 45-50 hours a week now? God forbid anyone want to, you know, enjoy life rather than work all the time.
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Meek 8:07AM (3/01/2006)
I wonder if the german engineer in the new VW commercials will be on strike? If so, I'll scab in his commercials with the tall blonde. German Engineering, yo, say what if you want me to unpimp your ride.
what?
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Joey (Kev) 9:00AM (3/01/2006)
Indeed IG Metall is not only the union for the automotive industry (that has 1 million employees all told) but for many others (steel, textile, forest etc.).
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klaatu 2:38PM (3/01/2006)
Yeah, go ahead and strike, boys. Hyundai has just put up a plant in eastern Europe and if they do as well in Europe as they have in the US, you won't have any jobs to worry about striking anyway....
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