Jürgen Kerner, Second Chairman of IG Metall and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG, on today’s Supervisory Board meeting of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG:
“The replacement of the three experienced steel directors sets us back miles. These personnel decisions distract from the standstill on the actual problems. This is damaging to the company. Just over a year after Mr. Lopez took office as CEO, we are left in a shambles. The shareholder representatives on the AG side must ask themselves to what extent they have contributed to this escalation.
Not a single problem has been solved with this escalation. On the contrary: everything is shifting and solutions are becoming more difficult. I note: The IDW6 report has not yet been commissioned. The financing of a restructuring has not been clarified. A business plan for an independent steel business has not been agreed. Mr. Kretinsky’s involvement? Unclear. The cost management for the construction of the DRI plant? Not known to me. A possible independence of the HKM? Radio silence.
Thyssenkrupp Steel is in perhaps the biggest crisis in its history. It’s all or nothing. What we urgently need now is calm, continuity and an experienced management that is dedicated to the immense challenges with the utmost concentration. What we have instead is maximum chaos: the experienced steel board member was forced out of the company in a headless action, the steel supervisory board was duped, politicians were extremely nervous. The company’s value has halved under Mr. Lopez. Tens of thousands of employees are deeply unsettled.
It can’t go on like this. I appeal to Mr. Lopez and the shareholders to finally come to their senses. There’s too much at stake. I expect a return to the real problems and to solutions that are widely supported.
I would like to thank Sigmar Gabriel and Detlef Wetzel for their great commitment. In recent months, both have tried to find solutions that suit everyone.
The employee side of the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG is requesting a special meeting of the Supervisory Board to clarify the current situation. Employees need clarity now. You have a right to know what happens next.”