After negotiations in the collective bargaining round of the north-west German iron and steel industry, a negotiation result was achieved. As of January 1, 2024, employees will receive an inflation compensation bonus of 1,500 euros net (trainees 1,000 euros). From February to November there are monthly payments of 150 euros net (trainees 80 euros).
The salaries and trainee remuneration will increase by 5.5 percent from January 1, 2025. The collective agreement runs until September 30, 2025. On the subject of working hours, the following key points were agreed in particular for a collective agreement to secure employment as part of the transformation:
Collective regulation
If there is pressure on employment in the course of the transformation, the company parties can reduce working hours by three hours, starting from the standard working time of 35 hours. If, for reasons of transformation, additional working time is temporarily necessary - e.g. for parallel operation of old and new technologies or for qualification - the working parties can also increase working hours by up to three hours. In the event of a collective reduction in working hours, remuneration will be paid on a staggered basis for up to one hour more. The overtime remuneration that already applies today is paid for work performed beyond 35 hours.
Individual regulation
The employees' request to reduce their individual working hours to 33.6 hours can be met, provided that this does not conflict with operational concerns. In principle, no payment security is granted for this. However, from January 1, 2025, employees aged 60 and older who work shift work will receive wage security. 34.10 hours are paid for this. The age limit will be lowered by one year in 2026 and 2027. An evaluation of the regulation will take place in 2027.
The collective agreements on partial retirement, job security and the introduction of working time accounts as well as the use of work contracts were extended.
“In view of the rapidly deteriorating conditions for the German steel industry, the agreed wage increase puts a maximum strain on the companies' options. With the disproportionate inflation compensation bonus for our trainees, we are sending a strong signal to collective bargaining partners. We rate it very positively that, together with IG Metall, we have succeeded in creating tailor-made regulations for working hours and securing employment during the ecological transformation of our industry. The regulation on individual working hours gives employees more flexibility, provided that the interests of the company do not conflict with this. It was important to us that, as a rule, no compensation was paid for this,” explains Reiner Blaschek, Chairman of the Steel Employers’ Association.
