German Strike: Workers seek lower weekly hours

World
Europe

Thousands of workers have taken to the streets of Germany to strike for better pay packages. The country's biggest union is demanding an inflation-busting 6 percent pay increase this year for about 3.9 million workers. However, employers have only offered 2 percent plus a one-off 200 euro payment and there could be more walkouts coming. CGTN's Guy Henderson has the latest from Berlin.

GUY HENDERSON BERLIN "3.9 million German metal workers are demanding a 6% pay rise in 2018 — and they're here to warn they'll carry out more than warning strikes if there's no progress in talks which start later on Thursday. Employers say they're willing to give them 2% more money.

But what bosses are particularly upset about is a demand for the option of reduced working hours to look after children or elder family members — they say they cannot fill the productivity gap because of an increasing shortage of workers in an ageing society.

Strikes could hit the heart of Germany's export-booming industry — companies like Porsche and Siemens.

And there could be more to come in other sectors. Because it's been 15 years since companies made a grand bargain with unions to keep the then-sick German economy more competitive — by keeping wages low, while promising no big job cuts.

Now corporate profits are soaring again and unions are saying we want better pay packages for our members — it's time for a new Grand Bargain. GH, CGTN, BERLIN