German workers at RWE energy firm to demand 12.5% wage hikes

DPA
·1 min read
The RWE logo can be seen on the facade of a building on the RWE campus in Essen. Unionized workers at German energy firm RWE will demand raises of at least 12.5% in upcoming collective bargaining talks, the IGBCE and verdi trade unions announced on Thursday. Fabian Strauch/dpa
The RWE logo can be seen on the facade of a building on the RWE campus in Essen. Unionized workers at German energy firm RWE will demand raises of at least 12.5% in upcoming collective bargaining talks, the IGBCE and verdi trade unions announced on Thursday. Fabian Strauch/dpa

Unionized workers at German energy firm RWE will demand raises of at least 12.5% in upcoming collective bargaining talks, the IGBCE and verdi trade unions announced on Thursday.

The substantial raises are justified by excellent profits at the company in recent years, said IGBCE trade union negotiator Holger Nieden.

RWE, Germany's largest electricity producer, has reported high profits in recent years and expects financial results for 2023 to show even higher profits. The company employed about 18,300 full-time positions worldwide as of December 2022, of which about 13,000 were in Germany.

The current collective bargaining deal at RWE is set to expire at the end of February. The first round of negotiations are scheduled for February 23.

The unions are also demanding a significant increase in training allowances and special payments for union members.