April 23, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1427

DUESSELDORF, Germany, April 22: German industrial union IG Metall and employers reached a new pay deal in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday, averting the threat of widespread strikes across Germany, the two sides said.

Following negotiations lasting 18 hours, the heads of IG Metall and employers said the accord on a new pay rise should be a model for a sector-wide agreement in Europe’s largest economy, where 3.4 million workers are employed in the industry.—Reuters