04:30Hundreds marched across the streets of Munich on Wednesday in a protest organised by the IG Metall union as negotiations for higher wages continue.
Footage shows the protesters rallying near the city's BMW factory with signs, balloons and banners. Some can also be seen delivering their speeches to the crowd.
"In each of our collective bargaining, let's go inside and hope that the employers offer us a proper and above all a respectful offer. Instead, dear colleagues, they made us an offer, yes, but this offer was anything but respectful," said one protester.
Employers have so far stuck to their offer of a 1.7 percent wage increase, starting from July 2025, followed by a further 1.9 per cent from July 2026 - for a period of 27 months. The union said it was determined to push for a change in the situation and has threatened to continue industrial action and increase pressure on the employers.
"The success of our company, and I want to make that very clear, is not on the 22nd floor of the four-cylinder. The success of our historic BMW brand lies at the heart of our business, dear colleagues," she continued.
The protest comes as IG Metall called for strikes across Bavaria in the metal and electric industries demanding a pay increase of 7 percent, arguing that it was necessary to stimulate purchasing po\wer and with it, the economy.
"What we need is a purchasing power, indeed, because otherwise people can't afford anything in the end, and that's why the 7 percent is absolutely right, also from an economic perspective," a protester commented.
The third session of collective bargaining is underway and has not brought progress, at the time of publication.
According to local media, at least 58,000 employees across 73 other companies joined the strike in Bavaria on Wednesday. 4,000 of those employees reportedly work for BMW.
Germany's largest metals and electrical engineering union IG Metall has around 3.9 million members. With its current action, it is demanding one of the highest pay hikes in thirty years.
There are also concerns about a potential trade war with China, after Germany warned the EU about the risks of imposing tariffs on electric vehicles from Beijing. The bloc said the new rules would address 'unfair' state subsidies from China, while Beijing condemned the "unfair, non-compliant and unreasonable protectionist practices" of the EU.
'This offer was anything but respectful' - BMW factory workers strike in Munich over pay amid warnings of EU trade war with China
Hundreds marched across the streets of Munich on Wednesday in a protest organised by the IG Metall union as negotiations for higher wages continue.
Footage shows the protesters rallying near the city's BMW factory with signs, balloons and banners. Some can also be seen delivering their speeches to the crowd.
"In each of our collective bargaining, let's go inside and hope that the employers offer us a proper and above all a respectful offer. Instead, dear colleagues, they made us an offer, yes, but this offer was anything but respectful," said one protester.
Employers have so far stuck to their offer of a 1.7 percent wage increase, starting from July 2025, followed by a further 1.9 per cent from July 2026 - for a period of 27 months. The union said it was determined to push for a change in the situation and has threatened to continue industrial action and increase pressure on the employers.
"The success of our company, and I want to make that very clear, is not on the 22nd floor of the four-cylinder. The success of our historic BMW brand lies at the heart of our business, dear colleagues," she continued.
The protest comes as IG Metall called for strikes across Bavaria in the metal and electric industries demanding a pay increase of 7 percent, arguing that it was necessary to stimulate purchasing po\wer and with it, the economy.
"What we need is a purchasing power, indeed, because otherwise people can't afford anything in the end, and that's why the 7 percent is absolutely right, also from an economic perspective," a protester commented.
The third session of collective bargaining is underway and has not brought progress, at the time of publication.
According to local media, at least 58,000 employees across 73 other companies joined the strike in Bavaria on Wednesday. 4,000 of those employees reportedly work for BMW.
Germany's largest metals and electrical engineering union IG Metall has around 3.9 million members. With its current action, it is demanding one of the highest pay hikes in thirty years.
There are also concerns about a potential trade war with China, after Germany warned the EU about the risks of imposing tariffs on electric vehicles from Beijing. The bloc said the new rules would address 'unfair' state subsidies from China, while Beijing condemned the "unfair, non-compliant and unreasonable protectionist practices" of the EU.
Hundreds marched across the streets of Munich on Wednesday in a protest organised by the IG Metall union as negotiations for higher wages continue.
Footage shows the protesters rallying near the city's BMW factory with signs, balloons and banners. Some can also be seen delivering their speeches to the crowd.
"In each of our collective bargaining, let's go inside and hope that the employers offer us a proper and above all a respectful offer. Instead, dear colleagues, they made us an offer, yes, but this offer was anything but respectful," said one protester.
Employers have so far stuck to their offer of a 1.7 percent wage increase, starting from July 2025, followed by a further 1.9 per cent from July 2026 - for a period of 27 months. The union said it was determined to push for a change in the situation and has threatened to continue industrial action and increase pressure on the employers.
"The success of our company, and I want to make that very clear, is not on the 22nd floor of the four-cylinder. The success of our historic BMW brand lies at the heart of our business, dear colleagues," she continued.
The protest comes as IG Metall called for strikes across Bavaria in the metal and electric industries demanding a pay increase of 7 percent, arguing that it was necessary to stimulate purchasing po\wer and with it, the economy.
"What we need is a purchasing power, indeed, because otherwise people can't afford anything in the end, and that's why the 7 percent is absolutely right, also from an economic perspective," a protester commented.
The third session of collective bargaining is underway and has not brought progress, at the time of publication.
According to local media, at least 58,000 employees across 73 other companies joined the strike in Bavaria on Wednesday. 4,000 of those employees reportedly work for BMW.
Germany's largest metals and electrical engineering union IG Metall has around 3.9 million members. With its current action, it is demanding one of the highest pay hikes in thirty years.
There are also concerns about a potential trade war with China, after Germany warned the EU about the risks of imposing tariffs on electric vehicles from Beijing. The bloc said the new rules would address 'unfair' state subsidies from China, while Beijing condemned the "unfair, non-compliant and unreasonable protectionist practices" of the EU.