Frankfurt – IG Metall continues to push for policies that ensure good jobs, a strong economy, and social security. With just under five weeks to go before the federal election, the IG Metall Executive Board met directly with the leading candidates—Olaf Scholz (SPD), Friedrich Merz (CDU), Robert Habeck (Alliance 90/The Greens), and Heidi Reichinnek (The Left)—to outline the union’s demands.
“There is a lot at stake for workers in our industries. The next federal government must not waste any time. It must act quickly and decisively to ensure that jobs in Germany remain secure and are future-proof,” said Christiane Benner, First Chair of IG Metall. “That is why it was important for us to convey the urgency of our concerns directly to the leading politicians. Everyone showed a great deal of understanding for industrial policy and the concerns of workers. However, we expect more commitment to these fundamental issues during the election campaign and after the election.”
Jürgen Kerner, Second Chair of IG Metall, emphasized: “Donald Trump’s inauguration has once again made it abundantly clear that the world has definitively moved on. If our industry—and with it, good jobs here at home—is not to die a regulatory death, then the next federal government must actively defend Europe’s interests and values through a strategic and European-coordinated industrial policy. This includes, for example, a European local-content strategy.”
Friedrich Merz discussed the current economic policy challenges with the 34-member executive board at its meeting today in Frankfurt. Robert Habeck and Heidi Reichinnek joined the meeting via live video link during the course of the day. Olaf Scholz had already arrived in Frankfurt on Monday evening to discuss the union’s concerns with the IG Metall executive board.
IG Metall is urging the next federal government to improve conditions for industry and skilled trades and to ensure social security amid economic transformation. Among IG Metall’s key demands are a faster expansion of renewable energy and power grids, reliably affordable energy prices, a federal investment initiative, and a socially oriented support package to accelerate the ramp-up of electric mobility. IG Metall is convinced that reforming the debt brake is necessary to ensure solid financing for these essential measures. It also calls for the expansion of labor market policy instruments, greater worker participation, increased collective bargaining coverage, and secure pensions.
The IG Metall Executive Board represents the union both internally and externally. It advises on and decides regarding strategic goals and important political projects in consultation with the IG Metall district leaderships. In addition to the five executive members, the Executive Board consists of 29 volunteer members.
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The complete list of demands for the federal election can be downloaded here.
