Press Statement Christiane Benner, President of IG Metall, on today’s Industrial Labor Summit

“For IG Metall, the priority now is to act quickly and in unity. The challenges are too great; we cannot afford to play political games or delay action when it comes to Germany as an industrial hub. This is a matter of respect for our colleagues. Their future and the future of the German economy are at stake.

We now need internationally competitive energy prices, especially for our energy-intensive companies. Otherwise, the climate-friendly transformation of the steel industry and other sectors will be nipped in the bud. Relief on grid fees must be provided—and a price cap must be put in place to ensure planning security going forward.

 Electric mobility must be strengthened through reasonable framework conditions and tax incentives for commercial and private buyers. A comprehensive and accelerated expansion of the charging infrastructure and more affordable charging electricity must be implemented.

“As was the case at today’s industrial labor summit, we will continue to work constructively and in a solution-oriented manner, with the expectation that this approach will also be reflected at the political and corporate levels.”