OTHER NEWS - March 7, 1995

German Strike Talks Resume: Wage talks for the western German engineering industry continued late Monday, with employers and the IG Metall union trying to break 11 days of stalemate and strike action in Bavaria. As talks progressed, the union’s chief in Bavaria, Werner Neugebauer, said employers had finally made a concrete offer in response to the union’s 6% wage demand. Employers have declined any comment on an offer, and an official with the Gesamtmetall employers’ federation said the question of a shorter 35-hour working week--due to be introduced in October--remained a key stumbling block. Employers say that represents a 2.8% increase in costs and have called for it to be delayed until next year.