With precision, constantly squeezing your purchasing power, European workers they demand higher wages and put pressure on employers. At that time, ECB closely follows the outcome of the relevant negotiations and, in general, the reaction of employers to mobilizationas changes in wages can jeopardize its course inflation. The focus is primarily on negotiations between employers and Germany’s two largest trade unions, IG Metall (metalworkers) and Ver.di (public sector workers), which together unite 3.9 million workers in Germany. Specifically, IG Metall calls for an 8% increase and Ver.di a 10.5% increase. Workers cite inflation, which is eroding their purchasing power and is expected to accelerate next year. According to metallurgists, they are forced to move outside their city and inevitably bear the burden of rising fuel prices. Workers at German airline Lufthansa and German car maker Audi also announced and apparently received pay raises.

As is often the case, employers disagree and metalworkers’ unions say they are only willing to pay a one-time contribution of 3,000 euros to workers who are asked to pledge not to demand a second contribution. for a predetermined period of time. They claim, after all, that they cannot cope with such an increase, and the alternative is strikes, mobilizations and riots. Meanwhile, German workers are not the only ones hurt by inflation and demanding more. The same applies to the workers of England who organize demonstrations in November. More than 70,000 employees at 150 UK universities planned a three-day strike in November and announced it last week. They demand better working conditions and pensions. Also last week, British nurses, railway workers and hundreds of workers at Heathrow Airport also went on strike demanding higher wages.

More than 70,000 employees at 150 British universities have planned a three-day strike in November.

In France last week, workers at Total Energies and in particular at the Feijin refinery in northern France went on strike. In Spain, on November 3, thousands of citizens gathered in Madrid’s famous Plaza Mayor to demand higher wages. In addition, workers at Azul Handling, which provides ground services to Ryanair at 22 Spanish airports, have announced 24-hour strikes that will last until early January, demanding higher wages. In Portugal, workers at Auteuropa, Volkswagen’s manufacturing arm, are expected to go on strike Thursday and Friday to demand a raise that will adjust their wages for inflation. In Austria, finally, metal workers have achieved what their German counterparts are demanding, namely a 7% increase in average wages, outpacing inflation of 6.3%. It is estimated that specific negotiations and their successful outcome for workers set a precedent for workers in other sectors of the country.