Press Release No. 33/2016 IG Metall Regrets Brexit Decision

Frankfurt am Main – Jörg Hofmann, President of IG Metall, regrets the British people’s vote to leave the European Union: “This is a regrettable outcome for the country and for Europe.” We cannot simply move on to the next item on the agenda. “Europe and its governments must take seriously the fears many people have regarding globalization and digitalization. Politicians must provide reliable security for education, jobs, and income, rather than pursuing a deregulation frenzy. Fair distribution, rather than growing inequality, must be the guiding principle in Europe. European policy needs a clear change of course.”

“Simple answers and a retreat into the nation-state are not the solution,” said the union leader. “Only as a political, social, and economic unit in a globalized world can Europe offer prospects for prosperity to its citizens.” Hofmann pointed to the massive problems that Brexit would trigger for the tightly knit value chain of the European industrial network. “We will continue to work with our British colleagues in the more than 320 European works councils to ensure that British locations have a promising future.”