Frankfurt am Main – In light of the persistently difficult situation facing the German economy, IG Metall is calling on employers and policymakers to find new solutions. Specifically, the union is calling for an initiative for jobs and economic recovery focused on innovation, investment, and industry—and is presenting a clear program to that end.
“IG Metall, its works councils, and the employees have delivered,” said IG Metall President Christiane Benner at the union’s annual press conference. “We have ideas, and we’re getting involved! Workers in our sectors are forgoing billions. In return, we’ve succeeded in securing tens of thousands of jobs through collective bargaining and securing investment commitments for German locations. Without us, the outlook for German industry would already be bleak!” Benner emphasized, referring to future collective bargaining agreements and similar arrangements.
Now it’s the employers’ turn. Benner calls on employers to stop the deindustrialization of the country: “We expect more! A clear commitment against relocations, plant closures, and layoffs—and we expect it immediately. We expect cooperation on equal terms and clear support for our initiative for jobs and economic recovery.”
“Enough with the accusation that workers are lazy. Enough with badmouthing our country!” stressed the vice chair, Jürgen Kerner. “We must tackle this together now.” IG Metall’s initiative is by no means merely about another roundtable discussion. “Our initiative is about concrete work in the engine room of industry—on the ground, in the regions, and within companies,” Kerner explained.
In this context, it is crucial to strengthen value-added networks in Europe: “Anyone who wants to sell here must also produce here,” Kerner made clear, criticizing companies in sectors such as the automotive, rail technology, and wind power industries: “Some profit from taxpayer money but want to source as cheaply as possible—without any requirements—from anywhere in the world. That’s not acceptable! We expect them to process, for example, green steel from Europe in the future.” Clear rules are needed for public contracts: “The special fund for infrastructure must benefit domestic manufacturers. And EU subsidies must no longer be misused for relocating operations within Europe. That’s schizophrenic and must be stopped immediately.”
Nadine Boguslawski, head of collective bargaining and chief treasurer, expects companies to commit to innovations, investments, and workforce training through collective bargaining agreements. “We are prepared to take a stand against corporate strategies that prioritize profits first and then rely on circumventing collective bargaining agreements and relocating operations abroad.” IG Metall is entering the major collective bargaining round for the 3.8 million workers in the metal and electrical industries “determined, self-assured, and with strong worker participation.” Interference with wages is counterproductive. “The drivers of the 2026 economic upswing are the workers and their incomes,” said Boguslawski.
IG Metall’s Social Affairs Director Hans-Jürgen Urban said: “The welfare state is not a burden, but a prerequisite for successful social and ecological transformation. We want to further develop the welfare state: toward greater reliability and distributive justice.” The goal, he said, is to include as many people as possible in times of change and to encourage them. “The crisis is also taking a toll on workers’ health, and they are further vilified by accusations of being ‘slackers.’” In 2026, IG Metall will launch a campaign to promote health in the workplace to combat the causes of sick leave. The union is seeing a significant increase in cases requiring legal protection for its members, particularly in the areas of labor and social law as well as protection against wrongful termination.
Ralf Reinstädtler, the union’s education director, called the upcoming works council elections a pivotal decision in the midst of industrial upheaval: “Qualified works council members negotiate the future of companies, locations, professions, and qualifications—including investments, continuing education, staffing levels, and the use of new technologies.” Anyone who leaves workers at the mercy of companies opens the door to frustration, fear, and the enemies of democracy. “Works council elections are not a playground for political agitators. Co-determination means responsibility, not loudness.”
Christiane Benner, President of IG Metall, emphasized that there must be a stronger focus on future technologies and new fields of employment, including through targeted investments: “We can strongly counter this country’s crisis of renewal. To do so, we must make better use of our opportunities and potential. Digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the industrial and skilled trades sectors belong together!” With regard to the Initiative for Jobs and Economic Recovery, she linked this to a call for a joint effort to create opportunities and overcome uncertainties. This should happen on two levels: concrete work within companies and, equally, in regional networks, in order to fully capitalize on opportunities and to secure and create jobs in industry and the skilled trades.
In 2025, 93,285 new employees joined IG Metall. The persistently high rate of job cuts in the sector and companies’ cautious hiring policies led to a slight decline in membership. With 2,015,495 members, IG Metall remains the largest single trade union in Germany.
Background Information on the Annual Press Conference
Initiative for Jobs and Economic Recovery
Heat Map and Opportunity Map
