German paper industry rise

The 50,000 employees in the German paper industry are also to get an above-inflation increase. The chemical and energy union IGBCE has reached a staged settlement, which increases pay by a total of 4.6% over 18 months. The new settlement, which runs from 1 December 2011 to 31 May 2013, provides for a lump sum payment of €70 this month, followed by 3.0% in January 2012 and a further 1.6% in January 2013. The main union negotiator, Holger Nieden, described it as “an acceptable compromise”.