Over 50,000 union representatives from IG Metall volunteer in more than 20,000 companies to advocate for their colleagues in the workplace. But what drives them? Why it’s worth becoming a union representative.
First Point of Contact
“We have 750 employees. It’s impossible for our 13 works council members to talk to everyone,” explains Christina Härtge. She has been a union representative at ZF in Laage, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, for five years—and has also served on the works council since 2022. She knows what makes the work of union representatives so important: “We union representatives are right there with our colleagues, in every department.”
Employees often have issues they don’t want to bring directly to the works council. As a union representative, you’re the first point of contact for your colleagues at the workplace. You can help directly to improve workplace processes and resolve disagreements. You serve as the link between your colleagues and the works council and IG Metall.
You ensure that your colleagues’ concerns and wishes are taken into account in decision-making—for example, at conferences and in collective bargaining negotiations. You stand for democracy in the workplace and within IG Metall.
You’re part of the process, you have a say—and you always get the latest information firsthand.
Unity Instead of Unrest
That’s a good thing. Because: “Rumors keep popping up. That leads to a lot of unrest and a poor work environment,” reports Marion Scheffler, shop steward at Adient Zwickau. As a shop steward, you can use your knowledge and expertise to quickly counter false rumors in the workplace.
At the same time, as a union representative, you play an important role when you want to push through improvements at work, for example regarding pay or working hours. You recruit new members for IG Metall and mobilize them when it comes to disputes with the employer—such as during collective bargaining rounds.
Good workplaces need union representatives
Whether as a point of contact, a liaison, or a mobilizer: A workplace that pays fairly and offers good working conditions needs union representatives. Bernd Waizmann, a union representative at Reich in Mellrichstadt and a member of the works council since 2018, is certain of this: “It’s all about the well-being of the workforce—which includes me, too.”
You can contribute to this as a union representative. Run for office now! If you’re interested, talk to your union representatives, your works council, or your local IG Metall chapter.
(Note: This article was first published in September 2019. We have updated it.)
