Across Germany, 381,500 people took part in union rallies on May 1 to demonstrate for a Europe based on solidarity and justice—under the slogan “Europe. But do it right this time!” In the run-up to the European elections on May 26, the DGB unions are calling for a European policy that serves the interests of workers: Europe-wide standards for good working conditions with greater collective bargaining coverage and worker participation, and more investment in the future, with equal opportunities for all.
“Europe must become more socially oriented. In many countries, a large proportion of young people are unemployed, and one in five EU citizens is struggling financially,” criticized Jörg Hofmann, First Chairman of IG Metall, in his speech at the May Day rally in Bremen. He sees social division as the cause of the rise of nationalists and right-wing populists in Europe.
More Investment in the Jobs of the Future – Greater Collective Bargaining Coverage
Hofmann called on policymakers and employers in Germany to invest more in the digital and ecological transformation of industry. In the automotive and supplier industries alone, for example, up to 150,000 jobs could be lost due to the shift to electric propulsion.
“These upheavals can only be managed if we invest heavily now in training and the jobs of the future,” Hofmann explained. “This requires new tools, such as the transformation short-time work allowance. This will help retain employees in their companies and train them for new roles. At the same time, we must strengthen collective bargaining coverage to prevent the transformation from deepening social divisions. Wage and pension levels, as well as equal opportunities, depend on strong collective bargaining agreements.”
Hofmann called on everyone to join together at the large IG Metall demonstration on June 29 in Berlin, under the slogan #FairWandel, to demonstrate for a social, ecological, and democratic transformation.
Unions as the Driving Force Behind Social Progress in Germany and Europe
“Strong unions are the engine of social progress. And we are the driving force—in politics as well,” said Christiane Benner, Second Chair of IG Metall, in her May 1 speech on Wednesday in Hanover. “The slogan‘Europe. Butdo itright this time!’ also means saying ‘no’ to tax-cutting competition within the EU. We must not accept companies relocating their headquarters for tax reasons and undermining German co-determination.”
Benner spoke out in favor of a Europe that is more than just an economic area. “This also includes standards such as European minimum wages that protect workers. And we finally need a bold European industrial and structural policy. We need a bold EU that has a vision of a social and just Europe.”
Benner warned that far-right extremists and right-wing populists are increasingly trying to divide the people of Europe. “We will fight this with every means at our disposal. We must take a clear stand against racism and xenophobia!”
Climate Protection and Digitalization Must Not Come at the Expense of Workers
IG Metall’s Chief Treasurer, Jürgen Kerner, called on people to participate in the European Parliament elections on May 26 during his speech at the May Day rally in Bautzen. “We must not leave our fate in the hands of the anti-Europeans! Right-wing populism, nationalism, and xenophobia are a threat to peaceful and harmonious coexistence.”
Kerner also warned against pitting climate protection against workers’ professional futures. “Mobility and energy must be climate-friendly, but they must also be affordable. This requires pressure from unions and workers to ensure that technological progress translates into social progress in Germany and across Europe. The unions stand for a social, ecological, and democratic transformation of the world of work and society.”
“Fundamental social rights must take precedence over capital interests.”
The costs of the transformation must not be borne solely by workers, demanded IG Metall Executive Board member Wolfgang Lemb. He warned employers and policymakers against using the ecological transition as an excuse to erode jobs and social standards. Workers must be placed at the center of policy—in Germany and in Europe. “Fundamental social rights must take precedence over capital interests. We need a reform of the Economic and Monetary Union to make the EU more resilient to economic crises and to strengthen social dialogue in Europe by expanding worker participation.”
Unions Must Help Shape the Transformation
From the perspective of IG Metall Executive Board member Ralf Kutzner, the order of the day is not less Europe—but more Europe. “Globalization, climate change, and digitalization do not stop at any national border,” Kutzner explained at the May Day rally in Dortmund. However, he emphasized that IG Metall must play an active role in shaping this transformation process. “If we leave structural change entirely up to employers, the only result will be rationalization. Many people are afraid they will no longer be able to keep up with the pace and the new technologies. Contrary to what has often been promised, digitalization does not ease the burden on workers; on the contrary, it often leads to more stress.”
Europe Must Set Standards for Decent Work and Quality Education
In her May 1 speech in Ingolstadt, IG Metall Executive Board member Irene Schulz called for a Europe that people trust. “Europe is a peace project. First and foremost, it must be there for its citizens, not for the markets, and it must bring tangible progress for the individual. The EU must set standards for decent work and quality education.”
Schulz rejects a society organized according to the principle of “the winner takes it all”: “IG Metall stands for a society in which prosperity is distributed fairly. It does not stand for a form of digital capitalism that gives rise to monopolies like Google or Amazon, which pay little or no taxes in Germany.”
“Shaping the digital and ecological transition so that no one gets left behind”
In his May Day speech in Bamberg, IG Metall Executive Board member Hans-Jürgen Urban criticized the labor market reforms implemented in Germany since the year 2000. “The liberalization of temporary work and service contracts has not promoted employment but has divided the labor market. Work was once a source of prosperity for many; today, for more and more people, it is a source of poverty,” Urban explained. Germany now faces the task of shaping the digital and ecological transformation of industry “in such a way that no one gets left behind.”
