Germany faces strike 'madness'

GERMANY'S huge IG Metall union will start strikes on Monday that threaten the country's economic recovery. An estimated 50,000 workers in the mechanical and electrical engineering industries in 21 places across the State of Baden-Wurttemberg will down tools after an overwhelming vote for a strike in support of a 6.5% pay claim.

The one-day strike will be followed by similar action at other plants nationwide later in the week. Berlin will be the target for walkouts the following week.

Unions said they would call off action if managements upped their pay offer from 3.3% spread over 15 months to 4%. But there is a hardening of attitudes among bosses that this is a fight they cannot and will not lose.

Employers' group Gesamtmetall is formulating an emergency strategy for lockouts if the strikes spread. President Martin Kannegiesser said: 'Enough is enough. We cannot allow ourselves to be blackmailed with threats of industrial action.'

The move towards a broadening war of industrial attrition is seen as nothing short of madness. As well as endangering economic recovery, the strikes threaten Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's hopes of re-election in September.