Labor union IG Metall advocates for a work stoppage at KTX's Grafrath location.
In a solely unexpected move, workers at KTX GmbH Solingen, under the banner of the IG Metall union, are gearing up for a warning strike to kick-start their early shift tomorrow. The cause of this work stoppage? A lack of binding collective bargaining agreements, according to the union spokesperson.
Here's the lowdown: most of the company's permanent employees are saddled with lower wages than their temporary counterparts. Add to that the uncertainty looming over the company's mid-term future, and you've got yourself a perfect storm of worker discontent. As a result, a significant number of employees have signed up for IG Metall with the backing of the works council, expressing concerns about equitable wages and job and location security.
Cemal Cetin, IG Metall union secretary, put it this way in a press statement: "Our members are demanding fair compensation in the face of inflation and increasing living costs, as well as job security and improved working conditions. Recognition and respect for their hard work and skills are paramount too. But, unfortunately, management refuses to acknowledge our demands, snubbing even informal discussions. This attitude was clearly demonstrated at our latest work meeting, leaving us no choice but to resort to our union's most powerful tool - a temporary work stoppage or warning strike."
This is a game-changer, as it marks the first time employees at this company have taken such a step. IG Metall is taking a firm stance in the metal and electrical industries, leveraging this warning strike as a means to demonstrate their solidarity and determination, pressuring both the company and employers’ associations into meaningful negotiations for more favorable terms. This local action mirrors broader industry-wide labor negotiations happening in Germany’s metal and electrical sector.
Workers at KTX GmbH Solingen, provoked by the lack of equitable wages and job security, are prepared to utilize the power of their union, IG Metall, by embarking on a warning strike in the finance sector, aiming to influence both the company and the employers' associations in favorable negotiations. This move signifies a decisive approach by IG Metall within the metal and electrical industries, aiming to foster respect and fair compensation for their members in the midst of rising living costs and inflation.
