PRESS STATEMENT Now is the time to devote all our energy to a climate-neutral transition and sustainable employment

Duisburg – Today, Tuesday, IG Metall President Christiane Benner visited thyssenkrupp Steel to learn firsthand about the situation there. The agenda included discussions with works council representatives, a visit to a vigil, and talks with employees. Speaking on the occasion of her visit, Benner said:

“It was important to me to come here today to speak with my colleagues in person. It became clear during our discussions that people are deeply concerned about the future of their jobs, their families, and their home region. There is a great deal of uncertainty and frustration regarding the behavior of the corporate leadership. But the employees’ determination to fight for their jobs and a bright future for thyssenkrupp is at least as strong. They made that unmistakably clear to me today. They can count on IG Metall in this effort.

I am watching with great concern how recklessly thyssenkrupp’s leadership has destroyed trust and fueled uncertainty within a matter of weeks. In recent years, thyssenkrupp has repeatedly gone through difficult times. In all those crises, co-determination served as a guarantee of reason, stability, and reliability. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of management. This makes it all the more dramatic to see how the culture of co-determination is now being thrown overboard at thyssenkrupp. This is a misguided path that management must abandon immediately. It won’t work without respect for co-determination and cooperation on an equal footing. Now is the time to join forces and devote all our energy to a climate-neutral restructuring of the plants and to sustainable, future-proof employment that strengthens the region.”