Frankfurt – IG Metall is urging the traffic-light coalition and companies to take concrete steps now toward a climate-neutral industry, with the goal of ensuring job security for workers during this transition. “We’re running out of time,” said Jörg Hofmann, President of IG Metall, at the union’s annual press conference. “We must tackle both the pandemic and the transformation of our industry at the same time. Both are enormous challenges that demand swift and decisive action.”
The goal must be to create new, sustainable jobs through investment in areas where value creation is shifting. Hofmann: “We will not master the transformation in Germany with the ‘dark triad’ of downsizing, closing, and offshoring. If Germany wants to remain a strong industrial nation, it must invest heavily in the future—including that of its workers.” The IG Metall chairman called on companies to make use of the “funds for the future” provision implemented in 2021 through collective bargaining agreements: “Only those who develop a plan with their employees early on will have a future.”
“Where the economy is thriving today, we must not allow industrial wastelands to emerge,” Hofmann warned. “From the employees’ perspective, the success or failure of the transformation is determined in the regions where they live.”
From IG Metall’s perspective, an active regional structural policy, the promotion of regional transformation networks, and new labor market policy instruments—such as the transformation short-time work allowance and the right to paid part-time training—are therefore key prerequisites for a successful transition.
“Jobs and companies will change, in some cases dramatically. Giving every worker a clear prospect of good work—good industrial work—during the transformation—that is our stated goal. We need this new promise of security, because transformation can only happen with, not against, the workers. We will continue to hold companies and policymakers accountable on this issue.”
This transformation can only succeed with workplace democracy in practice, said Christiane Benner, Second Chair of IG Metall. She called on companies to support the upcoming works council elections this spring: “Transformation in the interests of employees is only possible with strong co-determination.” At the same time, she urged the federal government to comprehensively overhaul the Works Constitution Act, which was last fundamentally reformed in 1972. “Our core demand is this: Employees and their representative bodies must be able to help shape the strategic direction of companies and workplaces! This includes greater co-determination in the area of training and skills development.”
IG Metall itself weathered the second year of the COVID-19 crisis, 2021, on a stable footing. The union continues to have 2.2 million members and, due to contact restrictions and a lack of new hires by companies, recorded only a slight decline of 2.1 percent. The metal and electrical industry, by contrast, cut 2.4 percent of its jobs during the same period.
There was no decline in revenue: Membership dues total 592 million euros—slightly more than in the previous year. “Despite the pandemic, we’re in good financial shape. We’re managing our finances soundly. No political action, no strike will fail due to a lack of funds,” concluded IG Metall Chief Treasurer Jürgen Kerner. Crucial steps for the transformation of various industries will be taken this year, emphasized Kerner, who is also responsible for IG Metall’s industry coordination: “In the aviation, rail, and steel industries in particular, 2022 will determine whether the transformation succeeds,” said Kerner. “We want to make Germany a hub for state-of-the-art rail and infrastructure technology and a leader in CO2-neutral aviation.” For the steel industry, a transformation fund of 10 billion euros is needed by 2030.
IG Metall expects collective bargaining rounds in 2022, including one in May for the iron and steel industry and another in September for the metal and electrical industries.
Regarding Jörg Hofmann’s statement
To Christiane Benner’s statement
To Jürgen Kerner’s statement
To the presentation slides
To Jürgen Kerner’s background information on the 2022 Annual Press Conference
To the press release
