Last-ditch talks over wages and working hours failed to reach a deal over the weekend. In the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, workers will down tools for 24 hours at a time through Friday evening.
Emboldened by the fastest economic growth in six years and record low unemployment, the union is demanding an 8 percent pay rise over 27 months for 3.9 million metals and engineering workers across Germany.
Employers have offered a 6.8 percent increase but have rejected the demand for shorter hours unless they can also increase workers’ hours when necessary, Reuters reported.
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