(ANSA-AFP) - FRANKFURT, NOV 18 - Germany's biggest trade
union agreed Friday on wage hikes totaling 8.5 percent that are
expected to cover almost four million workers facing soaring
inflation, averting a major strike in Europe's top economy. The
deal will be closely watched across the continent, which is
facing spreading industrial action as employees demand large pay
increases to cope with rising costs, particularly of energy. The
agreement between IG Metall union -- which represents workers in
Germany's key metal and electrical sectors, and is seen a trend
setter for setting wages nationwide -- was reached early Friday
after weeks of talks and walkouts. The so-called "pilot
agreement" in the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, which is
expected to eventually cover about 3.9 million workers across
Germany, lays out how the pay increase will be introduced in two
stages, in 2023 and 2024. It also includes a 3,000-euro ($3,100)
payment to combat the impact of inflation. (ANSA-AFP).
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