04:39Hundreds of industrial workers held a warning strike outside a Mercedes-Benz plant in Woerth on Wednesday to demand a seven per cent wage increase to combat rampant inflation and a cost of living crisis.
This comes amid declining production, market headwinds, rising energy prices and a brewing trade war between the EU and China despite efforts by the German government to avoid one.
Footage shows protesters from IG Metall marching and gathering in large crowds as they held flags and banners reading: 'Together for seven per cent, that's what we fight for' and 'For trainees, 170 Euros more!'.
A protester claimed that employers have failed to adjust pay in line with inflation, stating: "We won't accept that. We will be carrying out strong warning strikes here today."
"We need a coordinated, good industrial policy that gives people confidence and hope and makes it clear that Germany remains an industrial society. Our welfare state depends on it, everything depends on it and that's why we're on the streets," one protester explained.
"Some of the best trucks in the world are built here," he continued. "People are building an absolutely premium product and that's why people deserve premium working conditions."
He noted that workers are 'ready for a tough confrontation', adding that "we cannot compensate for industrial policy failures with collective bargaining policy."
"The people deserve that we give them that, compensate for inflation and also share in corporate profits and development," he added.
Hundreds of workers at German carmakers also went on strike in cities across Germany, including Berlin, Osnabruck and Hanover in the past week.
Germany's largest metals and electrical engineering union IG Metall has around 3.9 million members. It is demanding the highest pay rise in thirty years, citing years of spiralling inflation and a loss of purchasing power, while so far employers have reportedly offered just 3.7 per cent. Collective bargaining in Mainz will continue on Thursday.
Manufacturers are citing economic pressures in their refusal to meet the union demands. Volkswagen Group, the world's largest carmaker by sales said it needs to 'reduce costs' to safeguard 'future viability', inviting workers to 'take this groundbreaking action together'.
It comes amid reports of a looming trade war with China. This week, the EU imposed new tariffs on Chinese EVs - saying 'unfair' state subsidies were distorting the market - despite huge pressure from the German government and fears of retaliatory measures on the domestic automotive industry from Beijing. China has called the EU's efforts "unfair, non-compliant and unreasonable protectionist practices".
'Some of the best trucks in the world are built here!' – Workers strike over pay at Mercedes-Benz Woerth plant as EU fuels trade war with China
Hundreds of industrial workers held a warning strike outside a Mercedes-Benz plant in Woerth on Wednesday to demand a seven per cent wage increase to combat rampant inflation and a cost of living crisis.
This comes amid declining production, market headwinds, rising energy prices and a brewing trade war between the EU and China despite efforts by the German government to avoid one.
Footage shows protesters from IG Metall marching and gathering in large crowds as they held flags and banners reading: 'Together for seven per cent, that's what we fight for' and 'For trainees, 170 Euros more!'.
A protester claimed that employers have failed to adjust pay in line with inflation, stating: "We won't accept that. We will be carrying out strong warning strikes here today."
"We need a coordinated, good industrial policy that gives people confidence and hope and makes it clear that Germany remains an industrial society. Our welfare state depends on it, everything depends on it and that's why we're on the streets," one protester explained.
"Some of the best trucks in the world are built here," he continued. "People are building an absolutely premium product and that's why people deserve premium working conditions."
He noted that workers are 'ready for a tough confrontation', adding that "we cannot compensate for industrial policy failures with collective bargaining policy."
"The people deserve that we give them that, compensate for inflation and also share in corporate profits and development," he added.
Hundreds of workers at German carmakers also went on strike in cities across Germany, including Berlin, Osnabruck and Hanover in the past week.
Germany's largest metals and electrical engineering union IG Metall has around 3.9 million members. It is demanding the highest pay rise in thirty years, citing years of spiralling inflation and a loss of purchasing power, while so far employers have reportedly offered just 3.7 per cent. Collective bargaining in Mainz will continue on Thursday.
Manufacturers are citing economic pressures in their refusal to meet the union demands. Volkswagen Group, the world's largest carmaker by sales said it needs to 'reduce costs' to safeguard 'future viability', inviting workers to 'take this groundbreaking action together'.
It comes amid reports of a looming trade war with China. This week, the EU imposed new tariffs on Chinese EVs - saying 'unfair' state subsidies were distorting the market - despite huge pressure from the German government and fears of retaliatory measures on the domestic automotive industry from Beijing. China has called the EU's efforts "unfair, non-compliant and unreasonable protectionist practices".
Hundreds of industrial workers held a warning strike outside a Mercedes-Benz plant in Woerth on Wednesday to demand a seven per cent wage increase to combat rampant inflation and a cost of living crisis.
This comes amid declining production, market headwinds, rising energy prices and a brewing trade war between the EU and China despite efforts by the German government to avoid one.
Footage shows protesters from IG Metall marching and gathering in large crowds as they held flags and banners reading: 'Together for seven per cent, that's what we fight for' and 'For trainees, 170 Euros more!'.
A protester claimed that employers have failed to adjust pay in line with inflation, stating: "We won't accept that. We will be carrying out strong warning strikes here today."
"We need a coordinated, good industrial policy that gives people confidence and hope and makes it clear that Germany remains an industrial society. Our welfare state depends on it, everything depends on it and that's why we're on the streets," one protester explained.
"Some of the best trucks in the world are built here," he continued. "People are building an absolutely premium product and that's why people deserve premium working conditions."
He noted that workers are 'ready for a tough confrontation', adding that "we cannot compensate for industrial policy failures with collective bargaining policy."
"The people deserve that we give them that, compensate for inflation and also share in corporate profits and development," he added.
Hundreds of workers at German carmakers also went on strike in cities across Germany, including Berlin, Osnabruck and Hanover in the past week.
Germany's largest metals and electrical engineering union IG Metall has around 3.9 million members. It is demanding the highest pay rise in thirty years, citing years of spiralling inflation and a loss of purchasing power, while so far employers have reportedly offered just 3.7 per cent. Collective bargaining in Mainz will continue on Thursday.
Manufacturers are citing economic pressures in their refusal to meet the union demands. Volkswagen Group, the world's largest carmaker by sales said it needs to 'reduce costs' to safeguard 'future viability', inviting workers to 'take this groundbreaking action together'.
It comes amid reports of a looming trade war with China. This week, the EU imposed new tariffs on Chinese EVs - saying 'unfair' state subsidies were distorting the market - despite huge pressure from the German government and fears of retaliatory measures on the domestic automotive industry from Beijing. China has called the EU's efforts "unfair, non-compliant and unreasonable protectionist practices".