Some two hundred demonstrators gathered outside the Mercedes plant in Marienfelde, Berlin, after the Germany's biggest trade union, IG Metall, was calling on some 3.9 million metalworkers to briefly walk out to back its demand for a seven-percent pay rise. IG Metall says it is trying to soften the blow of inflation for workers in the key electrical and metalworking sectors of Europe's biggest economy. "we did receive an offer from the employers during the first two rounds of negotiations, but it is taking far too long and coming very late, and above all, the offer is far too low", says Jan Otto, spokesperson for IG Metall Berlin. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES