Duisburg – IG Metall Vice President Christiane Benner visited thyssenkrupp Steel today, Tuesday. During a tour of the plant and in conversations with thyssenkrupp Steel apprentices, she gained a detailed understanding of the site’s transformation process.
Benner was impressed by the employees’ dedication, both at their jobs and in the fight for a sustainable future for the steel industry. “Today I met smart employees and apprentices with a clear understanding of the challenges facing their workplace. They are committed to green steel and a sustainable future for the industry, and they deserve our full support!”
Christiane Benner clearly welcomed the government funding of approximately two billion euros—1.3 billion from the federal government and 700 million from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This funding lays the groundwork for the “tkH2Steel” decarbonization project and thus paves the way for a green steel industry.
Benner also made it clear, however, that a competitive industrial electricity price in the short term is essential for maintaining and developing Germany as an industrial location. “The basic materials industry—and thus the steel industry as well—is a central link in the industrial value chain. Energy-intensive companies need short-term support. However, this cannot be provided unconditionally: A time limit, a concrete transformation plan, as well as location guarantees and adherence to collective bargaining agreements must be prerequisites for this!”
Tekin Nasikkol, Chairman of the General Works Council at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG, added: “We on the works councils, together with IG Metall, agree that the transformation of the German economy and climate protection must go hand in hand without deindustrialization. Policymakers must set the course now to secure Germany’s industrial future. From our perspective, social issues must be given just as much priority in the ecological restructuring of industry.”
At the meeting of the collective bargaining committee for the West German steel industry, which took place following the Second Chairperson’s visit, the demands for the collective bargaining round taking place this fall and winter were discussed. The topic of reducing working hours was also a key focus, as it plays a particularly important role for employees working shifts.
Artur Siemens
Press Spokesperson
Phone: 069-6693 2 / Cell: 0160 533
Email: artur.siemens@igmetall.de
Mike Schürg
Press Spokesperson and Office Manager, IG Metall North Rhine-Westphalia District
Phone: 0211 45484162 / Cell: 0170 3333731
Email: mike.schuerg@igmetall.de
Dzenan Kurspahic
Representative, General Works Council, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG B
Phone: 0203 5240433 / Cell: 0172 1500841
Email: dzenan.kurspahic@thyssenkrupp.com
