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The union, which represents around 3.9 million workers, signalled its intention to start negotiations with employers after its board recommended union representatives to demand a 7% pay increase for metal and electronics workers over 12 months. 

Workers represented by IG Metall include employees of major European wind turbine manufacturers including Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, Enercon and Nordex. 

IG Metall’s board expects to make a final decision on the official demands of the negotiations on 7 July. 

A spokesperson for the union told “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç that Vestas and Siemens Gamesa employees were among those represented by the union who could potentially go on strike later this year if union negotiators’ demands are not met. 

“IG Metall is preparing for all possible outcomes of the negotiations. This includes the preparation of actions, possible warning strikes, 24-hour strikes, and even a vote on full strikes. Employees from all departments can participate in the strike actions. Which departments exactly will be involved will be determined in due course. Workers from supplier companies can also join the strikes,” the spokesperson said. 

Unlike Vestas and Siemens Gamesa, workers at Nordex and Enercon are not bound by a collective agreement and so will not go on strike, IG Metall said. 

Nevertheless, those firms could also be impacted by what happens in the expected negotiations, the union pointed out. 

“The collective agreements also have an impact on companies that do not apply the collective agreement. They set standards for working conditions and pay that many companies follow. What we negotiate for employees covered by collective agreements is therefore relevant for the vast majority of employees in the industry,” the spokesperson said.