Press Release No. 46/2011 Bertin Eichler: IG Metall is financially strong and fully capable of acting

Karlsruhe – Over the past four years, IG Metall has not only stabilized its financial situation but also improved it. Bertin Eichler, IG Metall’s chief treasurer, pointed this out on Monday in Karlsruhe. “IG Metall is financially strong. IG Metall has full capacity to act. IG Metall is ready to fight and strike at any time,” Eichler told delegates at IG Metall’s 22nd Regular Union Congress. The chief treasurer emphasized that IG Metall would close out the year with a significant surplus of over 5 million euros. Revenue for 2011 is expected to total around 457 million euros. This represents the highest level of membership dues revenue IG Metall has ever achieved. IG Metall’s assets have also grown steadily despite the financial and economic crisis. “So rest assured, our strike fund is well-stocked,” Eichler explained.

Eichler attributed this positive development to effective membership outreach in the workplace and strong political advocacy, which have led to rising membership revenue.
IG Metall has paid out over 100 million euros to its members, for example, for strike pay or benefits under leisure accident insurance. Approximately 84 million euros have been invested over the past four years in local member projects and administrative offices.

Eichler also gave a positive assessment of the union’s educational efforts. For example, the union has succeeded in holding its own against commercial providers in the continuing education of works council members. “Trade union education is a central link to our activities within the workplace and in society. We cannot be indifferent to where our works council members receive their training and continuing education,” said the union leader. Since 2007, IG Metall has invested approximately 110 million euros in trade union education.

With the initiative “Respect! – No Place for Racism!”, IG Metall has sent a clear message of solidarity, dignity, recognition, and respect in the workplace. The initiative has promoted greater respect and tolerance in society through more than 130 events nationwide and has reached more than 450,000 people to date. In the coming year, IG Metall intends to continue working on the “Respect! – No Place for Racism!” project in a sustainable manner and to develop additional educational programs for this purpose.