German Construction Workers Strike for First Time in 17 Years.

Construction workers in Germany are going on strike for the first time in 17 years to demand better pay. The IG Bau labor union has called on its members in Lower Saxony to strike after employers rejected a wage proposal by an independent arbitrator. Workers in other states are expected to join the strike, and the union is considering a nationwide strike. The strike could potentially delay major infrastructure projects and private home building. The arbitrator had ruled that construction workers should receive an additional €250 a month, which is half of the union's original demand. The industry's main employer lobby group's proposal to increase wages for the lowest-paid workers falls short of the arbitrator's proposal. The construction industry in Germany employs about 930,000 people, and any disruption to construction could impact the country's economic recovery. [Extracted from the article]