Press Release No. 39/2011 IG Metall Strengthens Union Education Initiatives – New Sprockhövel Education Center Opens

Sprockhövel – IG Metall aims to set an example by investing in educational initiatives. “IG Metall doesn’t just talk about education—it also invests in it. We take the educational mandate set by our members seriously. For us, the ‘knowledge society’ and ‘lifelong learning’ are not just empty phrases,” said Bertin Eichler, Chief Treasurer of IG Metall, on Friday in Sprockhövel at the opening of the new education center building. Eichler emphasized that educational work is always a key focus when it comes to discussing opportunities for fundamental changes in the economy and society and shaping the future together.

Berthold Huber, President of IG Metall, highlighted the importance of union educational work: “Educational work makes a significant contribution to the future viability of our organization.” Educational work is not limited to the transfer of knowledge, he said. It is a dynamic exchange of experiences among participants and a forum for dialogue within the organization. “Good educational work is also characterized by the fact that it feeds experiential knowledge back into the organization,” said Huber.

With this new building, IG Metall is replacing the training center built 40 years ago on the same site with a modern, and above all, more energy-efficient conference facility. The investment for this amounts to approximately 30 million euros.

IG Metall spends approximately 30 million euros annually on educational programs. Last year, approximately 98,000 works council members, union representatives, and members participated in seminars at IG Metall’s training centers. Nationwide, IG Metall offers approximately 510 types of seminars and educational events.