Note: The number of participants has been corrected from 77,000 to 81,000 based on updated figures from the police.
Frankfurt am Main – The situation facing Germany’s industrial sector is coming to a head, and workers’ concerns about job security are growing. Against this backdrop, industrial workers today held massive demonstrations simultaneously in five cities, calling on policymakers to act and employers to change their ways. In total, more than 81,000 workers heeded IG Metall’s call. The day of action, held under the slogan “My Job. Our Industrial Nation. Our Future!” was thus the union’s largest public demonstration in decades.
Christiane Benner, President of IG Metall, said in Hanover: “We’re out on the streets and in the squares today because nothing works without us! Without industry, Germany is a poor country—and we won’t let that happen. We expect more from employers. They’re cutting back, making cuts, planning to relocate, and showing no willingness to drive innovation or shape the future. But we can shape the future; we can embrace new technologies; we can build a green industry. And now we want to make that happen! It’s good that policymakers have shown they understand. But no special fund has been approved yet, and nothing is clear. All political forces must now take responsibility so that this crucial initiative does not fail. With our day of action, we are sending a clear signal for swift action, bold investments by policymakers and companies, and above all: for our future!”
With an eye toward the coalition negotiations already underway and the planned special fund for investments, Jürgen Kerner, Second Chairman of IG Metall, said in Stuttgart: “Politicians have woken up, recognized the gravity of the situation, and set the right course. Now we must consistently pursue this path, maintain a fast pace, and keep our eyes on the goal: a strong industry that continues to ensure secure jobs and broad prosperity in Germany.” Employers, too, are called upon to act: “The unproductive fantasies of downsizing and offshoring must finally come to an end! We now need managers who are committed to Germany as a business location, who position their companies for a sustainable future, and who invest in a bold, far-reaching strategy.”
The IG Metall day of action took place today, Saturday, with simultaneous rallies in Hanover, Stuttgart, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Leipzig. The occasion is the difficult situation facing the industry, which, in IG Metall’s view, has recently been exacerbated by employers’ misguided approaches and the hesitant actions of policymakers. As a result, more and more jobs are at risk.
With this day of action, IG Metall is calling for more investment from policymakers and companies, an active industrial policy, and targeted support for innovation and future technologies. IG Metall is convinced that a strong, future-proof industry has significance far beyond the industrial sector itself. It is a prerequisite for good, fairly paid jobs and prosperity in Germany as a whole.
