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Because You Matter IG Metall Talk: How do we secure the future of industry?

Tariffs, high energy prices, competition from China: German industry is under pressure. We asked you: What concerns do you have regarding Germany as an industrial hub? Christiane Benner and Jürgen Kerner, the first and second chairs of IG Metall, discuss your responses.

20 May 2026 20 May 2026


Industry is cutting jobs, and entire locations are at risk. And this is happening in Germany, the home of the auto industry. What needs to happen now to get German industry back on track? How can we secure jobs and create new ones?

We’ll be discussing this in the new IG Metall podcast, “Because You Matter—The IG Metall Talk.”

Our host Christoph speaks with First ChairChristiane Benner and Second Chair Jürgen Kernerabout your most pressing questions regarding the future of Germany as an industrial hub.

The discussion focuses on the current challenges facing Germany as an industrial nation and what unions, companies, and policymakers need to do.
 

That’s what “Because You Matter” is all about:

We asked via our social media channels and mailing lists what issues are most pressing for you right now and how you’re doing. You responded, and we got together to discuss the topics that matter most to you.

The result is our new video podcast, “Because You Matter – The IG Metall Talk.”

In it, Christiane Benner, President of IG Metall, and Jürgen Kerner, Vice President of IG Metall, answer your questions.


Upcoming episodes of the IG Metall video podcast “Because You Matter – The IG Metall Talk”: 
Episode 1: How do we make Germany more equitable? 
Episode 3: More money despite the crisis?!
Fourth episode: Dangerous mismanagement by corporate executives

 

New on igmetall.de

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