German union calls on steel workers to hold further warning strikes

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German union IG Metall called on Saturday for steel workers to hold further warning strikes after employers failed to meet its wage increase demands in a third round of talks.

The action is set to begin on Monday, a day before talks are due to resume. Similar strikes took place earlier this month.

IG Metall, which is demanding an 8.2% pay rise for workers, on Friday rejected an offer by employers for a 4.7% increase for 21 months.

“The steel industry is making a lot of money right now. Employees want their fair share of that,” said Knut Giesler, head of IG Metall in North-Rhine Westphalia and leader of negotiations in northwest Germany.

Steelmakers such as Thyssenkrupp, Salzgitter and ArcelorMittal, which profited from high prices during the pandemic, are facing rising energy and raw material costs.

(Reporting by Tom Sims; Editing by Mike Harrison)