Collective dispute escalated: Pritzwalk gear works threatens unlimited strikes!

Collective dispute escalated: Pritzwalk gear works threatens unlimited strikes!

in the city of Pritzwalk, it is bubbling. On June 18, 2025, the workforce in the cogwerk is planning one last reminder to the employer in the form of a warning strike. This has already been the sixth work resignation since the beginning of the tariff dispute, which is increasingly worsening. Like the Märkische General reports, IG Metall has already announced a pre -vote on permanent strikes if the talks about a new collective agreement are not resumed.

The negotiator of IG Metall, Anne Borchelt, has accused the management of actively blocking the conclusion of a new collective agreement. The employees demand a fee increase of at least 6.85 percent. The offer of employers, on the other hand, is apparently far below these claims. While employers have not had any discussions for months and only offer a wage increase of two percent, the mood among employees is rather tense and charged. Michael Siemens, the chairman of the works council, also expressed his distrust compared to the transparency of the business figures of corporate management.

protest and past

As early as January 24, 2025, there was a first warning strike, in which the employees took care of work from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. The protest in front of the worker was extremely impressive with almost complete participation of the early shift. As the Pritzwalker Stadtzung reported, the workforce informed about the status of the negotiations and emphasized the advanced progress in the six negotiating rounds. The employer side also proposes a premium system that is bound to committee rate, profit and presence - a proposal that Borchelt criticized as inadequate and inadequate.

The history of the gearworm is not insignificant and goes back two years when the employees fought the recognition of IG Metall as negotiating partners after more than 30 years of collective bargaining. In the summer of 2023, a first collective agreement was finally signed, which was a bright spot for many employees. However, the current developments make it clear that the struggle for fair wages and working conditions continue.

overview of the tariff round

In a broader context, the tariff round in the metal and electrical industry is already turbulent times. IG Metall has enforced various improvements for its members in recent years. This includes, among other things, the possibility for employees with children or in shift work, to choose between additional tariffs and additional free days. However, these innovations, which definitely make the life of the employees, are facing the background that companies are increasingly under pressure and want to secure their profits. This shows that negotiations on wages and working conditions are far from only locally, but also at the national level. For example, IG Metall about various current changes that will improve the demands and conditions in the next few years.

For the workforce in Pritzwalk, the question remains how it will continue and whether the employer side finally gets into conversation in order to reduce the existing tensions. With the impending permanent strike, the patience of the employees seems to be exhausted and the pressure on the management is growing. The next few days will show whether there will be an agreement or the workforce must continue to maintain the pressure.