German industrial bosses want workers back to 40 hours a week without extra pay — effectively a 13% cut in hourly labor costs. The 35-hour week in metals and auto was won by IG Metall after a seven-week strike in 1984 and has been the norm since 1995.
Now with German manufacturing over 15% below its 2017 peak, labor costs at €49.50 an hour (47% above the EU average), and VW considering plant closures, executives at Mercedes-Benz, Stihl, and others are openly calling the old deal unaffordable.
Source: FT
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