Frankfurt am Main – From late September through mid-November, IG Metall surveyed employees in its organizational area about their work and living situations under pandemic conditions and their expectations regarding political and union action. More than 250,000 employees at over 6,700 companies participated in the online survey—a quarter of whom are not union members.
The survey results show that employees are feeling uncertain. “The COVID-19 crisis is having a profound impact on employees’ lives and work. But the pandemic is also proving to be a catalyst for our industries, which are already undergoing profound structural change,” said Jörg Hofmann, President of IG Metall, on Thursday in Frankfurt.
Nearly half of those surveyed feel they are not sufficiently informed about the economic situation and the future prospects of their company. Only one in two says there is a concrete strategy in place at their company to address the long-term challenges posed by digitalization and decarbonization.
More than a quarter see their own jobs as being at risk. Concern is highest among temporary workers (62 percent), but it is widespread even among permanent staff: Among colleagues employed in production in the automotive industry, 42 percent fear for their own jobs. “With an unsettled workforce, the transformation cannot succeed. Change requires security. Job security is therefore the order of the day. We demand that employers come up with strategies, make investments, and develop sustainable business models,” said Hofmann.
More than half of those surveyed are currently on short-time work or have been on it in recent months. The highest proportions are in the steel industry (73 percent) and in automotive manufacturing (67 percent). According to the respondents, short-time work has not only proven itself as a crisis tool—it should also be used for training to prepare employees for the future. Support for this stands at over 90 percent.
Employees expect the upcoming collective bargaining round in the metal and electrical industries to result in agreements that provide them with prospects and security. Future collective bargaining agreements with commitments to employment, locations, training, and investment are very important or important to about 90 percent of respondents.
Two out of three respondents view the four-day workweek as a means of securing employment even amid long-term structural change. For two out of three respondents, wage increases are important or very important. Especially during the crisis, it is crucial to strengthen domestic demand and prevent private consumption from collapsing further.
“The survey results show that IG Metall’s collective bargaining demands for the metal and electrical industries are closely aligned with employees’ expectations. This support gives us momentum for the upcoming collective bargaining rounds, for resolving workplace conflicts, and for our policy demands,” said Hofmann.
To the presentation
Further information and press photos of Jörg Hofmann
