Frankfurt am Main – IG Metall has reaffirmed its design claim for an ecological restructuring of industry in Germany. “As IG Metall, we are campaigning for an industrial development model that is socially and ecologically sustainable, that combines economic prosperity, good and safe work and an environment worth living in,” said the first chairman of IG Metall, Jörg Hofmann, on the occasion of the day of the Work on May 1st.
Concept and conflict – we can do both
Hofmann calls on employers to work constructively with IG Metall, works councils and employees and to promote socio-ecological transformation in the companies. “Employees want to be part of the innovations and products of tomorrow. But they need security in the face of change and clear perspectives.”
Hofmann warns employers not to oversleep the change or even to relocate jobs to cheap foreign countries in the shadow of the transformation. “As IG Metall, we can do both: concept and conflict. It is up to the employers to decide which of these instruments we use to support the transformation in the companies. Our goal is clear: the transformation must be shaped socially, ecologically and democratically. That’s what we’re working towards – one way or the other”
For more investments and contemporary co-determination
In view of the upcoming upheavals, the rights of works councils and trade unions must be strengthened, Hofmann demands. Here the legislature is obliged to adapt the works constitution and corporate codetermination to the requirements of the 21st century.
“But we will not wait alone for the legislature. Trade union power to act and the enforcement of future collective agreements are already making more economic democracy possible today. We do not accept landlord-style decisions about locations, investments and employment. We oppose this with trade union solidarity. Participation of the workforce – without this it is not possible.”
For an active industrial policy
According to IG Metall, the federal government is also required to do this. What is needed is an active industrial policy that sets the framework so that new products, new value creation and new jobs can be created in Germany and not migrate to low-wage countries. A fair and internationally competitive industrial electricity price for energy-intensive industry, for example, is long overdue.
In addition, there is also a need for an active labor market and employment policy, which, for example, makes training and further education possible for newly emerging or rapidly changing professions. In this context, IG Metall brought the right to a second training into play. “We need safe bridges into the working world of tomorrow,” says Jörg Hofmann. “Politics must now build these bridges.”
Further statements by the executive board members of IG Metall on May 1st for editorial use:
Jörg Hofmann, First Chairman of IG Metall“It is high time to invest in employee qualifications. The ecological and digital transformation requires new, sometimes different qualifications than those acquired in the profession. That’s why it’s important to promote a change of lane in professional life – with time, money and offers for a second apprenticeship. That is why the issues of qualification and second vocational training must not be questioned with reference to the debt brake or even placed under austerity dictates.”
Christiane Benner, Deputy Chairwoman of IG Metall “Solidarity also means that we redesign our economy to be climate-friendly and social. There must also be sustainability for employees. We want to rebuild the industry for this, not liquidate it! In order for mobility to function in an environmentally friendly manner in the future, we must think of all modes of transport together. We need a lot of investment, for example in charging stations for cars and commercial vehicles, and massive funding for rail transport. And for the employees, up-to-date co-determination in the companies is necessary.”
Jürgen Kerner, chief treasurer of IG Metall“We don’t let employers tell us fairy tales about the wage-price spiral. The opposite is true. We can only achieve economic stability and economic growth with stable purchasing power. For that, people need money in their pockets. Good wages and a stable economy – that’s what we fight and strike for.”
Wolfgang Lemb, Executive Board Member of IG Metall “Whether the transformation towards a decarbonised industry will succeed will be decided in the regions. A key is cooperation with the works councils and the employees on site. It is important to take the social consequences into account in addition to the industrial perspectives. I expect the Federal Government to think about and implement industrial, energy, structural and employment policies more jointly. We want the transformation to succeed socially, ecologically and fairly.”
Ralf Kutzner, executive board member of IG Metall“Some may have smiled at May 1st as Labor Day in recent years. Now, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that we have to fight harder and harder distribution battles in order to enforce a fair share of what is earned for the people. This is how we can help secure the standard of living of millions of employees. This is also the reason why significantly more employees are becoming union members again. That’s a good thing.”
Irene Schulz, executive board member of IG Metall “The times of crisis have shown that we trade unionists not only show unbroken solidarity, but are also successful. Because our strong wage agreements mean good work for good wages. And that in turn secures employment, skilled workers and industry in Germany. That is the value of strong and successful unions, now and in the future.”
dr Hans-Jürgen Urban, executive board member of IG Metall “In a time of social uncertainty and fear of social decline, a well-developed welfare state is more necessary than ever. Without social security, neither the necessary energy and transport transition nor the digitization of industry and services will succeed. If you don’t take people’s social fears seriously, you’re bound to fail. We need more and not less solidarity in society. And that is only possible with strong trade unions!”