Germany's largest industrial union says that on Monday it will expand its rolling strikes for higher wages to include Berlin and the eastern state of Brandenburg. 

Wednesday, I.G. Metall called on 1,300 workers to strike for a third day. The union says the action affected 33 medium-sized companies. 

Earlier in the week, workers at major auto factories and electrical goods manufacturers observed the strike. 

I.G. Metall has rejected a management pay raise offer of just over three-percent, demanding instead a wage hike of 6.5 percent. German media reports say the union may be ready to settle at around four percent. 

Union leaders say they will continue calling for rolling one-day strikes at various businesses, instead of trying to completely shut down German industry. 

Economists say a long strike, or an overly generous wage settlement, could hurt Germany's economy, which is already suffering from high unemployment and slow growth. 

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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