At a sweltering 36°C, things heated up not only at the barbecue on Wednesday morning. For the first time in the history of the Berlin site, employees of Rolls-Royce Solutions stopped work. The background: negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement have stalled. In front of the office building in Berlin-Oberschöneweide, colleagues gathered to ramp up pressure on management ahead of the fourth round of negotiations. Their message was clear: Enough with the stalling tactics — we demand serious negotiations!

Berlin Site Left Behind

About 100 highly qualified engineers and developers work at Rolls-Royce Solutions Berlin on innovative systems for renewable energy. But unlike other locations, such as Friedrichshafen, the Berlin site has no collective agreement in place. Instead, employees face a 40-hour workweek, lower pay than the industry standard, and no collectively agreed benefits such as the ability to convert bonuses into additional time off. Since 2024, employees in Berlin have been organizing with IG Metall and have launched their campaign for collective bargaining.

Stalemate Despite Negotiations

After three rounds of negotiations, management remains unyielding, especially on issues like the company’s pay structure and collectively negotiated leave days. The employees’ demands are clear. In addition to a transparent and collectively agreed pay system under the IT framework agreement, they also want:

• Introduction of a collectively agreed bonus, with the option to convert it into up to 8 additional days off,
• Improved conditions for requesting mobile work,
• Possibilities for remote work from abroad,
• A site and job security guarantee through December 2029.

Employees’ Message Loud and Clear

With banners, chants, and strong statements, the employees made it clear: they’re serious. For many, it was their first-ever strike and a powerful joint message to management.

"The turnout for this first warning strike at Rolls-Royce Solutions was impressive," said Jan Brauburger, trade union secretary at IG Metall Berlin. "The employer’s negotiation tactics have justifiably made the workforce angry. Why should collective standards that apply at other Rolls-Royce locations in Germany not be applied in Berlin? That’s simply no longer acceptable to the employees."

Meanwhile, ice cream and cold drinks helped people cool down, and the neighborhood showed its solidarity. Victoria Fischer, chair of the works council at Berlin-based software firm MBition, was on site to express support for the employees.

"We Need a Real Solution — and We Need It Now!"

"The employer has shown little willingness to compromise during the first three rounds of negotiations. But clinging to an opaque and underdeveloped pay system fails to meet the legitimate demands of IG Metall members at Rolls-Royce Solutions," said Thomas Weber, IG Metall’s lead negotiator for the Berlin site. "With this warning strike, the employees have made it clear once again: we need a real solution — and we need it now!"

IG Metall Berlin is calling on company management to engage in constructive, solution-oriented negotiations in the fourth round of talks. The ball is in the employer’s court and the employees have made it clear they will not be strung along any longer.