From Lisbon to Michigan: Coordinated Labor Actions Hit Multiple Industries as Talks Stall
04.06.2026 - 08:05:23 | boerse-global.de
On June 3, 2026, Portugal ground to a halt. Schools closed, rail traffic nearly ceased, and national carrier TAP operated just 79 of more than 300 scheduled flights. The general strike called by the CGTP union federation was the second nationwide walkout in six months, triggered by planned labor-market reforms from the center-right minority government. More than 100 articles of the labor code are slated for revision, and unions warn of a sharp deterioration in working conditions.
The unrest is far from confined to one country. In Austria, negotiations covering roughly 50,000 chemical-industry workers have collapsed. After a 14-hour session, the seventh round broke off without a deal. New collective agreements had been slated to take effect May 1. Employers presented two options: a 0.5% wage increase plus a one-time payment of €300, or a 2% hike running from October 2026 through April 2028 — an average annual raise of just 0.79%. Company representatives cited the loss of 600 jobs in the final quarter of 2025 and eroding competitiveness against Germany. The unions PRO-GE and GPA had already trimmed their demand from 3.5% to 3%. Now they threaten extended strikes beginning next week, with work stoppages potentially lasting up to eight hours. Earlier two-hour warning strikes had hit sites including Boehringer Ingelheim, Octapharma, the Chemiepark Linz, and the Lenzing-Werk in Upper Austria.
In Germany, retail and confectionery negotiations are equally stuck. Talks for Berlin and Brandenburg’s retail sector opened June 1 with no resolution. The region covers roughly 139,700 employees in Berlin and 80,000 in Brandenburg. Employer offers started with a six-month pay freeze, followed by 2.0% and then an additional 1.5% after three more months. Verdi rejected the proposal and announced strikes. The union is demanding a 7% pay rise, at least €222 per month, and an extra €150 monthly for apprentices. Berlin’s peace obligation has already expired; Brandenburg’s runs until June 30. The next bargaining session is scheduled for June 23.
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Separately in the confectionery sector, around 60 workers at the Intersnack plant in Grevenbroich-Wevelinghoven walked out on June 2 after the second round of talks for North Rhine-Westphalia’s sweets industry yielded no agreement.
Across the Atlantic, a strike at Dauch Corp is threatening to disrupt General Motors production. About 1,000 employees at the axle manufacturer’s Three Rivers, Michigan, facility walked out on June 1. They are demanding higher wages, better health insurance, and improved work-life balance. The UAW aims to raise the top hourly rate from roughly €20 to over €27. No new negotiations have occurred since the strike began. GM initially continued production, but analysts say axle inventories will last only about two weeks.
Not every walkout is about money. In Mannheim, more than 75 workers at the DS Smith plant struck for a social-plan agreement after the site’s closure was announced. Similar actions took place at regional retail outlets of Kaufland, H&M, and IKEA. In Neustadt an der Donau, IG Metall ended its strike at the Mahle plant after a social-plan deal was reached covering severance — the factory will close. And in Augsburg, the Augsburger Druck- und Verlagshaus (ADV) is shutting down operations by the end of August 2026. After filing for insolvency in late May and failing to find an investor, a social plan for the roughly 100 employees has been agreed.
When workplaces change — through strikes, closures, or restructuring — employers must still meet their legal duties to protect staff. A free toolkit covering the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 gives you nine practical tools, including director liability guides and risk assessments, to keep your business on the right side of the law. Get the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
