Frankfurt am Main / Hanover – Four DGB unions have founded an “Alliance for Reason in Energy Policy.” IG Metall, IG BCE, IG BAU, and EVG are calling for a reorientation of energy policy and are launching a joint petition campaign “For affordable electricity and good jobs.” The unions are advocating for an energy transition based on an economically viable, innovative, and socially responsible energy mix comprising renewable energy, coal, and gas.
Detlef Wetzel, President of IG Metall: “We need a reliable and affordable energy supply. It forms the basis for the future competitiveness of German industry, for our sectors, and for our jobs. We expect the federal and state governments to pursue an energy policy that strikes a sensible balance between competitiveness, jobs, and climate policy.”
Michael Vassiliadis, President of IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie (IG BCE): “We are at the beginning of a new debate about the future of our industries. At stake are the prospects for energy production and energy-intensive sectors of the economy. We want a successful energy transition; we want an energy transition that leads to more jobs, rather than destroying good jobs.”
Robert Feiger, Federal Chairman of IG Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU): “The energy transition affects all key areas of society. For it to succeed, we therefore need broad public acceptance. This can only be achieved if jobs, competitiveness, and climate policy are considered together.”
Alexander Kirchner, Chairman of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG): “Current energy and environmental policy lacks a clear vision, even in the transportation sector. It makes ecologically sound rail transport more expensive and leads to even greater environmental damage through avoidable CO2 emissions.”
Important decisions regarding future energy policy will be made in the coming weeks. As early as December, the federal government will discuss a national action plan on climate protection. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs has just presented a so-called Green Paper titled “An Electricity Market for the Energy Transition.”
IG Metall, IG BCE, IG BAU, and EVG jointly believe that a reliable and affordable energy supply is the foundation of competitive companies and secure, good jobs. Too many jobs have already been lost unnecessarily. In all decisions regarding the energy transition, the guiding principle must be to strengthen and secure jobs. The unions’ appeal continues: “We expect the federal and state governments to return to an energy policy based on economic and social reason. We want an energy transition without job risks and political price gouging. We want an energy transition that promotes growth and climate protection. Jobs, competitiveness, and climate policy must be linked in such a way that one is not pitted against the other.”
Please see the following link: www.igmetall.de/energieallianz
