That is not exactly how it works in my IG Metall-run company. Although the range of jobs bound to unionized salary level, if you are außertariflich (i.e. above

That is not exactly how it works in my IG Metall-run company. Although the range of jobs bound to unionized salary level, if you are außertariflich (i.e. above the union-negotiated salary level) you have a similar system with steps. Of course at one point in the hierarchy people probably earn heaps of money, but middle management and even senior management still is in a similar system.