Mercedes-Benz workers strike in Germany over plan to extend weekly hours

Mercedes‑Benz announced a cost‑saving program that includes extending the 35‑hour work week to 40 hours without additional pay and postponing a transformation bonus worth about 18 % of salaries to next year, with the possibility of cancellation. The proposal triggered protests at factories in Stuttgart, Sindelfingen, Untertürkheim, Bremen, Rastatt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Affalterbach and Germersheim. More than 33,000 workers walked out, while union IG Metall reported participation of around 20,000 in some sites and the company cited 10,000 participants.

IG Metall leaders warned of a "hot summer" for the auto sector and announced further actions, including a large convoy of workers planned for 9 July. The strike has drawn solidarity statements from unions at BMW and Audi, highlighting broader pressures on Germany’s automotive industry.

The dispute centers on labor‑cost reductions, the extension of weekly hours, and the delayed transformation payment affecting roughly 90,000 of the 108,000 German employees, raising concerns over job security and future production capacity.