More than 100,000 workers in the German metals and electrical industries have staged walkouts across the country after labour union IG Metall rejected a wage offer for the 3.8 million employees it represents.
IG Metall union turned down an offer from employers for a wage rise of 2.1 per cent, saying it fell too far short of its demand for a 5 per cent increase.
"The 2.1 per cent over 24 months still keep workers on a restricted diet in favour of profits. Economic growth is ignored," said Knut Giesler, a regional leader at IG Metall in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, on Friday.
IG Metall union said on Thursday that warning strikes would continue into the coming week, adding that it would start 24-hour strikes if no agreement was reached by the Pentecost holiday in mid-May.
In the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the home of car brands Porsche and Mercedes, more than 37,000 workers from over 150 companies joined walkouts on Friday, the union said.
Around 17,000 workers at companies including industrial group Thyssenkrupp and carmaker Daimler took part in industrial action in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Overall, nearly 110,000 workers joined the walkouts and participated in industrial action, IG Metall said.
