Frankfurt am Main – In view of the persistently difficult situation in the German economy, IG Metall is calling on employers and politicians to find new solutions. Specifically, the union is calling for an initiative for work and recovery with a focus on innovation, investment and industry – and is presenting a clear program for this.
“IG Metall, its works councils and the employees have delivered,” said the first chairwoman of IG Metall, Christiane Benner, at the union’s annual press conference. “We have ideas, we’re getting involved! The employees in our areas are giving up billions of dollars. In return, we’ve managed to secure tens of thousands of jobs in disputes and agree on investment commitments for German locations. Without us, things would be extremely dark in German industry!”, emphasized Benner, with reference to future collective agreements and similar agreements.
Now it’s the employers’ turn. Benner calls on employers to stop the de-industrialization of the country: “We expect more! A clear commitment against relocations, site closures and layoffs, and immediately. We expect cooperation on an equal footing and clear support for our initiative for work and recovery.”
“Stop accusing the employees of being lazy. Stop badmouthing our country!”, emphasized the second chairman, Jürgen Kerner. “We have to tackle it together now.” IG Metall’s initiative is by no means just about another round table. “Our initiative is about concrete work in the engine room of the industry, on site, in the regions and companies,” explained Kerner.
It is crucial to strengthen value creation networks in Europe: “If you want to sell here, you also have to produce here,” Kerner made clear and criticized companies from sectors such as automobiles, railway technology or wind power: “Some benefit from tax money, but want to buy as cheaply as possible without any requirements, anywhere in the world. That’s not possible! We expect that in the future, for example, they will process green steel from Europe.” Clear rules are needed for public contracts: “The special fund for infrastructure must reach domestic manufacturers. And EU subsidies must no longer be misused for relocations within Europe. This is schizophrenic and should be ended immediately.”
Collective bargaining officer and chief cashier Nadine Boguslawski expects companies to commit to innovations, investments and qualifications through collective agreements. “We are prepared for conflict when it comes to corporate strategies that first make profits and then rely on collective bargaining and relocations abroad.” IG Metall is entering the major collective bargaining round for the 3.8 million employees in the metal and electrical industry “decisively, confidently and with great participation from the employees”. Interventions in wages are counterproductive. “The drivers of the 2026 recovery are the employees and their income,” said Boguslawski.
IG Metall’s social director Hans-Jürgen Urban said: “The welfare state is not ballast, but rather a condition for the success of social-ecological change. We want to further develop the welfare state: towards greater reliability and fair distribution.” It’s about taking everyone with you in times of change and encouraging people. “The health of the employees is also suffering from the crisis, and they are also being insulted by accusations of being ‘slackers’.” In 2026, IG Metall will launch an offensive for health in companies in order to combat the causes of sickness-related absences. When it comes to legal protection for its members, the union is recording significantly more cases, particularly in labor and social law as well as protection against dismissal.
Education director Ralf Reinstädtler called the upcoming works council elections a directional decision in the midst of industrial upheaval: “Qualified works councils negotiate the future of companies, locations, professions and qualifications: about investments, further training, staffing and the use of new technologies.” Anyone who leaves employees at the mercy of companies opens the door to frustration, fear and the enemies of democracy. “Works council elections are not a playground for political arsonists. Participation means responsibility, not volume.”
Christiane Benner, First Chairwoman of IG Metall, emphasized that future technologies and new fields of employment must be more focused, also through targeted investments: “We can strongly counteract the renewal crisis in this country. To do this, we must make better use of our opportunities and potential. Digitalization, artificial intelligence as well as industry and crafts belong together!” With regard to the initiative for work and recovery, she combined this with the call for a joint effort to create perspectives and overcome uncertainties. This should happen on two levels: concrete work in companies and equally in regional networks in order to make full use of opportunities and to secure and create jobs in industry and crafts.
In 2025, 93,285 new employees joined IG Metall. The persistently high level of job cuts in the industry and the companies’ cautious hiring policies led to a small loss of members. With 2,015,495 members, IG Metall remains the largest individual union in Germany.
Background information on the annual press conference