Bonn – The technological, economic, and social transformation must not lead to a division of society. “Technological progress must also lead to social progress. This requires a balance between ecology, innovation, and employment,” said Jörg Hofmann, President of IG Metall, at his union’s Transformation Congress on October 30 in Bonn. Over 600 works council members and union representatives from IG Metall are participating in the two-day event.
Hofmann sees a risk to social cohesion in the polarization between workers performing simple, routine tasks and those whose jobs place high demands on their creativity. Hofmann is calling for a shift in labor market policy that includes a legal right to education and continuing education.
Small and medium-sized businesses largely unaffected
At the congress, examples and projects from companies will be presented that illustrate how change is already being shaped today, for example in the areas of skills development or the protection of employee data.
However, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular have in many cases not yet even addressed the use of new digital technologies, said Rudolf Luz, head of the Labor Policy Division on the IG Metall Executive Board. Luz: “Only a few have recognized that digitalization is an important part of their business model.” And Hofmann added: “With ownership comes responsibility. That also means thinking about the future of the company and its employees. Anyone who still has no idea today how things will proceed tomorrow is playing games with the employees and their future.”
Employers Must Disclose Strategies
To provide clarity on economic and technological change, IG Metall plans to create a nationwide Transformation Atlas. This will gather information from companies on strategy, investments, innovations, and employee qualifications. The Atlas is intended to provide an assessment of how well companies are prepared for the digital and ecological transformation. To this end, employers must disclose their strategies.
The transformation also presents new challenges for collective bargaining policy. Hofmann suggested agreeing on provisions to protect against the consequences of digitalization. These could include collective bargaining provisions for workforce development or employer-funded career reorientation if continued employment at the company is not possible. “So far, there is no clear path to success toward an ecologically and socially just economy and society,” Hofmann criticized. He calls for an industrial policy that does not lose sight of these goals. Secure jobs, a healthy environment, affordable mobility, and energy are not mutually exclusive.
Digital infrastructure must become a public good
If the transformation is to be successful in the interests of workers, value chains for the future must be secured in this country. This requires a massive expansion of public investment in education, as well as in infrastructure.
This also applies to digital infrastructure. Hofmann: “Access to the internet is an essential prerequisite for social and economic coexistence. Therefore, digital infrastructure must become a public good.” Hofmann went on to point out European industry’s heavy dependence on the cloud giants Google, Facebook, and others. “If we want digital profits to be invested in good jobs here, then we need European alternatives that are organized not according to the laws of profit, but according to the rules of universal access rights, transparency, and data security.”
