03:37The largest metalworkers union in Germany, IG Metall, launched a wave of nationwide strikes over pay, with hundreds rallying in front of the Mercedes plant in Marienfelde, Berlin on Tuesday.
Footage shows workers gathering outside the Mercedes plant, holding placards and union flags, wearing jackets declaring 'solidarity will win'.
Hundreds of workers at German carmakers went on strike in cities across Germany, including Osnabruck and Hanover. IG Metall is demanding the highest pay rise in thirty years, citing years of spiralling inflation and a loss of purchasing power.
Protester Friedrich explained that workers in Germany are suffering 'a loss of wages' due to price increases, as 'life is getting more expensive very quickly'.
"Rent is getting more expensive and living costs are getting more expensive. Not only that, but everything in principle," he explained.
Fellow protester Moritz explained the demands set out by the workers on strike.
"We are demanding from employers a 7 per cent pay increase in 12 months," he said, adding: "That is a fair wage increase, and we expect it."
"Today is a warning strike. That's why we're showing here that we support the demand for 7 per cent more pay and also 170 Euros more for trainees," he continued.
Trainees say they are impacted more severely than experienced workers, which could lead to a lack of trained staff in German industries in future.
"If we want to tackle the shortage of skilled workers, if we want our economy to have a future, then training must continue to be promoted," said Kira. "It simply has to be made attractive - you can't do that by starving yourself."
Meanwhile, manufacturers are citing declining production and economic pressures in their refusal to meet union demands. Volkswagen, the world's largest carmaker by sales, announced collective bargaining with IG Metall in September after rejecting the union's demands for pay increases.
Chief negotiator for Volkswagen AG, Arne Meiswinkel, noted that: “We must safeguard Volkswagen’s future viability and competitiveness in the long term. To do this, we need to reduce costs. Now is the time to take groundbreaking action together.”
IG Metall has around 3.9 million members working in Germany's metals and electrical engineering industries.
Metal and electric industry workers rally outside Mercedes-Benz plant amid strike for better pay
The largest metalworkers union in Germany, IG Metall, launched a wave of nationwide strikes over pay, with hundreds rallying in front of the Mercedes plant in Marienfelde, Berlin on Tuesday.
Footage shows workers gathering outside the Mercedes plant, holding placards and union flags, wearing jackets declaring 'solidarity will win'.
Hundreds of workers at German carmakers went on strike in cities across Germany, including Osnabruck and Hanover. IG Metall is demanding the highest pay rise in thirty years, citing years of spiralling inflation and a loss of purchasing power.
Protester Friedrich explained that workers in Germany are suffering 'a loss of wages' due to price increases, as 'life is getting more expensive very quickly'.
"Rent is getting more expensive and living costs are getting more expensive. Not only that, but everything in principle," he explained.
Fellow protester Moritz explained the demands set out by the workers on strike.
"We are demanding from employers a 7 per cent pay increase in 12 months," he said, adding: "That is a fair wage increase, and we expect it."
"Today is a warning strike. That's why we're showing here that we support the demand for 7 per cent more pay and also 170 Euros more for trainees," he continued.
Trainees say they are impacted more severely than experienced workers, which could lead to a lack of trained staff in German industries in future.
"If we want to tackle the shortage of skilled workers, if we want our economy to have a future, then training must continue to be promoted," said Kira. "It simply has to be made attractive - you can't do that by starving yourself."
Meanwhile, manufacturers are citing declining production and economic pressures in their refusal to meet union demands. Volkswagen, the world's largest carmaker by sales, announced collective bargaining with IG Metall in September after rejecting the union's demands for pay increases.
Chief negotiator for Volkswagen AG, Arne Meiswinkel, noted that: “We must safeguard Volkswagen’s future viability and competitiveness in the long term. To do this, we need to reduce costs. Now is the time to take groundbreaking action together.”
IG Metall has around 3.9 million members working in Germany's metals and electrical engineering industries.
The largest metalworkers union in Germany, IG Metall, launched a wave of nationwide strikes over pay, with hundreds rallying in front of the Mercedes plant in Marienfelde, Berlin on Tuesday.
Footage shows workers gathering outside the Mercedes plant, holding placards and union flags, wearing jackets declaring 'solidarity will win'.
Hundreds of workers at German carmakers went on strike in cities across Germany, including Osnabruck and Hanover. IG Metall is demanding the highest pay rise in thirty years, citing years of spiralling inflation and a loss of purchasing power.
Protester Friedrich explained that workers in Germany are suffering 'a loss of wages' due to price increases, as 'life is getting more expensive very quickly'.
"Rent is getting more expensive and living costs are getting more expensive. Not only that, but everything in principle," he explained.
Fellow protester Moritz explained the demands set out by the workers on strike.
"We are demanding from employers a 7 per cent pay increase in 12 months," he said, adding: "That is a fair wage increase, and we expect it."
"Today is a warning strike. That's why we're showing here that we support the demand for 7 per cent more pay and also 170 Euros more for trainees," he continued.
Trainees say they are impacted more severely than experienced workers, which could lead to a lack of trained staff in German industries in future.
"If we want to tackle the shortage of skilled workers, if we want our economy to have a future, then training must continue to be promoted," said Kira. "It simply has to be made attractive - you can't do that by starving yourself."
Meanwhile, manufacturers are citing declining production and economic pressures in their refusal to meet union demands. Volkswagen, the world's largest carmaker by sales, announced collective bargaining with IG Metall in September after rejecting the union's demands for pay increases.
Chief negotiator for Volkswagen AG, Arne Meiswinkel, noted that: “We must safeguard Volkswagen’s future viability and competitiveness in the long term. To do this, we need to reduce costs. Now is the time to take groundbreaking action together.”
IG Metall has around 3.9 million members working in Germany's metals and electrical engineering industries.