BERLIN — Germany’s biggest industrial union intends to seek a 7% pay increase for millions of workers in negotiations starting later this year, arguing that companies like automakers and machinery manufacturers are in a position to afford it.

The IG Metall union’s leadership said Monday that it was recommending a hefty raise demand for 3.9 million workers.

It said companies have well-filled order books and that, even though prices are no longer accelerating as quickly as they had been, one-time payments agreed to in the last settlement have been eaten up by inflation.

IG Metall and employers agreed in late 2022 to raises totaling 8.5% over two years plus one-time payments of about $3,200 each. — Associated Press