German union calls for 24-hour strike in auto, steel sectors

FRANKFURT, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Germany's powerful industrial union IG Metall announced a 24-hour strike on Thursday, ramping up pressure in a pay dispute affecting 3.7 million workers at companies including Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Tata Steel.

• The stoppage, for which IG Metall did not immediately give a date, is a response to what the union said was an obstructive stance by employers following three rounds of negotiations without progress.

• Germany's largest union is demanding a 5% wage increase, measures to safeguard jobs and production sites, and profit-sharing mechanisms in sectors performing strongly.

• Employers have proposed a one-off payment of 1% in July 2027 and a 1.3% wage increase from July 2028. The proposal would also allow financially troubled companies to withhold the one-off payment.

• The union has dismissed the employers' offer as effectively a pay cut in real terms.

• Regional employers' associations on Wednesday condemned a call by IG Metall regional branches for a 24-hour stoppage, saying longer strikes would only cause further damage to the crisis-hit sector.

• Last week, IG Metall proposed a temporary arrangement that would allow employees in companies under economic pressure to make concessions, provided that the companies make binding commitments regarding investment and jobs.