Christiane Benner, First Chairwoman of IG Metall for the promotion of electromobility and regulation of the automotive industry:
“Politicians come to an agreement, the employees breathe a sigh of relief. We have been pushing for this for a long time. A clear path to electromobility with simultaneous flexibility must now provide security – especially for employees in industry. The measures must first and foremost have a positive effect on jobs. Existing jobs, such as in the supply industry, must be preserved. Future ones, such as in digitalization and battery production, must be created now.
Strengthening and supporting local production, from steel to suppliers to battery recycling, is exactly the right thing to do. Everyone must be able to afford electromobility; funding is very welcome and necessary.
The transformation of our industries is happening right now. And we expressly welcome the fact that the extension of the short-time working allowance can build valuable bridges into the future!”
Assessment in detail: Auto industry: Assessment of the coalition committee
IG Metall social director Hans-Jürgen Urban on the future of pensions:
“It is good and right that the pension level should finally be stabilized. However, there is a threat of an expiry date of 2031.
The time pressure now formulated and the dominance of austerity and cuts issues in the commission’s mandate threaten to pose a risk to adequate pensions in the long term. The aim must be to sustainably strengthen the statutory pension as the most important pillar of retirement provision for everyone and to include everyone. The reform policy focus must be on strengthening the equally financed, legal system for all generations.
In this context, the announcement that public funds will now be used to promote the private insurance industry is incomprehensible.”