IG Metall is demanding a 5% pay increase for 3.7 million workers covered by Germany’s metal and electrical industry agreements. The negotiations include auto, mechanical engineering, electronics, aerospace and defense suppliers, with talks scheduled to begin on October 7 and strikes possible from November 1. The demand comes as German industry faces tens of thousands of job losses and mounting pressure on auto production from Chinese competition, steep tariffs and high production costs. Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have said manufacturing in Germany is too expensive and have raised the possibility of closing plants. Regional IG Metall branches had previously backed the 5% target for a 12-month contract and sought a social component for lower-paid workers.