GERMANY: This week, IG Metall launched a wave of "warning strikes" across Germany to put pressure on employers to accept the union's demand of an eight per cent pay rise for 3.6 million metalworkers.

More than 150,000 autoworkers, engineers and electronics workers at more than 500 production sites participated in the temporary walkouts that began on November 1 and are scheduled to continue throughout the week.

The trade union has rejected the 2.9% wage rise over 14 months offered by employers.

Some companies where warning strikes have been held include: Opel, Siemens, Porsche, Deutz AG, Audi, Daimler, Ford, Mahle, Continental, Federal-Mogul,  TRW, MAN, Bosch, VW , Mercedes,  and BMW.

IG Metall is due to resume wage negotiations on Nov. 11 and has warned of a nationwide general strike on November 17 should talks fail.