Consulted on the draft directive harmonizing Member States' laws to safeguard employees from carcinogen exposure risks.
Gear Up for a Fair Pay Raise in Car Shops of Rhineland-Palatinate
IG Metall Pushes for Higher Wages and Apprentice Pay in Automotive Sector
Citing the Results of a Nationwide Survey, IG Metall Demands a 6.5% Wage Increase and €170 Bonus for Apprentices at Car Dealerships and Workshops in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Stefanie Majer, Political Secretary of IG Metall Koblenz, stated, "Employees in the Koblenz region made it crystal clear that fair wage hikes should top the agenda during negotiations." Support for the demand for increased apprentice wages was also widespread. "Overworked staff in car dealerships is often a consequence of the skilled labor shortage," Majer added, mentioning the stressful conditions it imposes on employees and extended waiting times for customers. "We believe employers should address this issue by offering fair wage hikes as well as making the industry an attractive prospect for skilled workers," Majer emphasized.
For the first time in several years, the 2025 wage negotiations in the Koblenz region will take place within a stable framework. Majer explained, "Working conditions, such as working hours, retirement, and special payments, were initially canceled by employers in Rhineland-Palatinate at the start of 2020. It wasn't until mid-2024 that we successfully reinstated these conditions after numerous discussions and actions." Majer highlighted the need for continuous fighting for fair tariff agreements to ensure decent working conditions, and encouraged car dealership and workshop employees to join IG Metall and participate actively in the process.
The current wage agreements in Rhineland-Palatinate's automotive sector expire on March 31, 2025. The first round of negotiations is expected to begin in early April 2025.
(Enrichment Data: As of April 2025, the status of wage negotiations for car dealerships and workshops in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, stood at an ongoing process. The IG Metall, the metalworkers' union, had demanded a significant increase in wages, focusing on a 6.5% wage hike or a €170 monthly allowance for apprentices, as well as an alleviation component to convert some wages into extra time off.
The first round of negotiations concluded without an offer from the employers on April 3, 2025. However, by May 21, 2025, a breakthrough was achieved, leading to a new collective agreement. This agreement included a 2.3% wage increase starting from July 1, 2025, and a further 3.3% increase from August 1, 2026. Apprentices would receive an increase of €80 per month starting in July 2025, with another 3.3% increase in August 2026. The agreement also provided for converting some wages into extra time off, allowing workers to take an additional five days off per year.)
In the ongoing wage negotiations for car dealerships and workshops in Rhineland-Palatinate, IG Metall, the metalworkers' union, is advocating for a significant change in the finance sector. They are pushing for a 6.5% wage increase or a €170 monthly allowance for apprentices, as well as a provision to convert some wages into extra time off, aiming to improve business conditions for employees.
Furthermore, IG Metall is urging employers in the automotive sector to make the industry more attractive to skilled workers by offering fair financial terms and working conditions, addressing the issue of overworked staff that often results from the skilled labor shortage.
