IG Metall Launches Strike, Audi, Mercedes and Other Companies Affected

After the mandatory truce period expired at the end of October, several companies including Volkswagen Group's Audi, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Schaeffler faced worker strikes on Monday and Tuesday. Workers at the Audi plant in Ingolstadt staged a brief work stoppage last night. The labor dispute affects approximately 3.7 million employees. IG Metall's demands are: a 5% pay raise over 12 months, along with measures to protect jobs and production sites. Management's offer is: a one-time payment equivalent to 1% of annual pre-tax wages in 2027, and a 1.3% pay raise starting from July 2028. The union said the third round of negotiations is scheduled to begin on Thursday. Schaeffler announced on Tuesday plans to close five factories in Europe and cut 3,460 jobs, about three-quarters of which are located in Germany. Last month, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner attended a campaign rally with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he announced plans to build Audi's first U.S. factory. The union is demanding that the company provide long-term guarantees for its domestic German factories.