Germany: IG Metall calls warning strikes over phased early retirement

In June 2008, the IG Metall metalworkers' trade union initiated a series of warning strikes to support its claim for a negotiated replacement for the state-funded early retirement scheme (Altersteilzeit), for which official financial support is set to expire in 2009.

Although removal of public funding from 2009 is still the official position of the Christian democrat-social democrat coalition government, the social democrats have stated that they want to extend support for the scheme until 2015, adding this issue to conflicts over minimum wages that have been racking the coalition.