What is the Union Congress?
The Regular Union Convention is the highest governing body of IG Metall. It is convened bythe Executive Boardevery four years.
What happens at the Union Congress?
The union convention is the highest decision-making body of IG Metall. Here, delegates take stock of past activities and discuss future goals. Based on resolutions, key motions, and proposals, they decide on tasks and goals for the next four years. They also elect a new Executive Board.
Who participates in the Union Congress?
A total of 421 delegates were elected for the 25th Regular Union Congress.Members of the Executive Board and the Audit Committee, district leaders, and advisory board membersparticipate in an advisory capacity. In addition, the Executive Board and theseven IG Metall districtsmay nominate and invite guests. Political representatives, representatives of other unions or employers’ associations, and international guests also come to Frankfurt am Main.
How does one become a delegate?
Delegates are elected in electoral districts designated by the Executive Board. There is one delegate for every 5,000 members. Delegates are elected at the delegate assemblies held at IG Metall local offices. The delegate assemblies are elected by the local members.
Only women and men who have been members of IG Metall for at least three years as of election day and who have paid their dues in accordance with the bylaws during that time are eligible to run for delegate. In special cases, colleagues up to the age of 27 may also be elected as delegates after at least 12 months of uninterrupted membership.
Who can submit motions to the Union Congress?
Motions to be considered at the Union Congress must be submitted to the Executive Board at least 15 weeks before the start of the Union Congress. All motions to the Union Congress must be communicated to the members by the Executive Board eight weeks before the start of the Union Congress. Motions to the Union Congress may be submitted by: the delegate assemblies of the local offices, the Executive Board, the Audit Committee, and the Employee, Women’s, Youth, Skilled Trades, and Migration Committees to the Executive Board of IG Metall.
Policy Motions and Key Motions: What Are They?
The Motions Committee classifies the motions as policy motions and key motions. Based on the policy motions and the key motions, the delegates at the Union Congress discuss and decide how IG Metall should position itself on fundamental challenges and which goals it intends to place at the center of its work over the next four years.
The policy resolution describes the general social, workplace, collective bargaining, and organizational policy framework within which IG Metall conducts its union work. It identifies political challenges, outlines necessary actions and goals, and thus serves as a guideline for IG Metall’s work until the next union convention.
The key motions focus on the strategic implementation of specific issues. They define concrete goals and formulate tasks that are to be addressed as a priority in workplaces, in workplace and collective bargaining policy, and in social policy.
After the union convention, the sum of all resolutions forms the basis for a concrete and binding work program for the entire organization.
How many motions will be voted on?
One policy resolution, four key resolutions from the Executive Board, one resolution from IG Metall Youth, as well as 494 political resolutions and 39 resolutions regarding the bylaws are up for a vote this year. They address key societal, social, and economic developments, as well as challenges in collective bargaining, workplace, and organizational policy for IG Metall.
How are resolutions passed?
Resolutions are passed by a simple majority. Amendments to the bylaws require the approval of two-thirds of the voting delegates.
Who makes decisions outside the Union Congress?
The Advisory Council: It is the highest decision-making body between union congresses and conducts necessary by-elections to the Executive Board and the Audit Committee. Each IG Metall district appoints one Advisory Board member for every 30,000 members. The Advisory Board also includes the members of the Executive Board and—in an advisory capacity—the members of the Audit Committee and the district leaders. In addition, the Union Congress may decide to refer motions that could not be addressed at the Union Congress to the Advisory Board for deliberation and decision.
What are IG Metall’s bylaws, and what do they contain?
Thebylaws are the “internal constitution” of IG Metall and form the basis of its work. They establish the legal framework for IG Metall’s work, as well as its structure, scope of activity, and services. The current bylaws were adopted at the 24th Regular Union Congress in October 2019 and took effect on January 1, 2020.
