1.   Bluem also criticized the president of the German employers association, Hans-Olaf Henkel, for unfairly characterizing Germany as increasingly negative for investment.

2.   Employer associations tout the bills as a way to introduce needed flexibility in the workplace.

3.   Both the union and the employers association said they had no estimate of how much the strike has affected hotel capacity nationwide.

4.   But Martin Kannegieser, president of the industrial employers association Gesamtmetall, said the companies had made their final offer.

5.   But some employer associations say operating costs will rise by at least four percent.

6.   Critics called the union position insufficient, noting that many east German firms have already quit the employers associations and negotiated separate deals with their workers to stay afloat.

7.   Employer association chief Josef-Fidelis Senn responded by categorically rejecting the demands again, adding that there would be no new talks.

8.   In Germany, most contracts are negotiated between the union and regional employer associations representing entire sectors, not company by company.

9.   In Germany, most wages are negotiated between unions and regional employer associations representing entire sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, chemicals or construction.

10.   In Germany, most wage agreements are negotiated between regional employer associations and unions representing workers in a given economic sector, not company by company.