Collective bargaining conflict in Spandau: BMW and Siemens reach agreement after strike!

Collective bargaining conflict in Spandau: BMW and Siemens reach agreement after strike!

In Spandau, where the streets were rocked by strikes on November 12, 2024, IG Metall and the employers' associations have finally achieved a breakthrough! After 18 hours of heated negotiations, a compromise was reached that increases wages for BMW and Siemens employees. The agreement comes after intense protests in which over half a million workers across Germany took to the streets demanding better conditions.

IG Metall demanded a wage increase of seven percent and an increase in training pay by 170 euros. Employers initially only offered 1.7 percent from July 2025. But after long negotiations, an agreement was reached: from April 2025, wages will rise by 2.0 percent, followed by a further increase of 3.1 percent a year later. In addition, employees will receive a one-off payment of 600 euros on February 1, 2025 and an increase in the additional pay according to the collective agreement to 900 euros from February 2026.

Reactions from BMW and Siemens

The reactions from BMW and Siemens are consistently positive. Siemens spokeswoman Konstanze Somborn praised the quick compromise, even if she noted that the agreement was “at the limit.” The long term of 25 months until October 2026 gives companies planning security. Increasing training remuneration is also seen as a step in the right direction to increase the attractiveness of training.

Markus Kapitzke, chairman of the works council at BMW Motorradwerke, described the collective agreement as a “good compromise”. The disproportionate increase for the trainees is more than deserved. The negotiations have not only improved wages but also working conditions, which is of great importance for the future of the employees.