Future of industry in danger: thousands demand safe jobs

Future of industry in danger: thousands demand safe jobs

In Germany there is resistance: thousands of employees of the metal and basic material industry took to the streets in various cities, including Hanover and Cologne, to demonstrate for the preservation of their jobs. The day of action, initiated under the motto "Future instead of clearcut", caused a sensation nationwide. According to the IG Metall union, up to 9,000 people gathered in Hanover, while the police estimated the number at around 6,000.

Christiane Benner, the chairwoman of IG Metall, was disappointed with the current developments: "We expect more from the employers. They dismantle, shorten, want to shift, and do not make any institutions, innovations or future." Michael Vassiliadis, head of the IGBCE industrial union, also warned: "The hut burns in the basic material industries." These alarming words emphasize the urgent need to counteract the workplace and the associated austerity programs that have affected more than 25,000 jobs in the past few months. The reason for this is not only austerity measures, but also relocations abroad that affect the German industrial sector, according to Zeit.de .

political demands for investments

The unions are calling for the new federal government to act quickly to improve the conditions for industry. A central demand is the support from a credit -financed special fund, as is currently being discussed by the Union and the SPD. But Benner warns: "It is good that politics has shown that they have understood, but nothing has yet been decided." In order for the urgently needed protection of the jobs not only remain an empty promise, all political forces would have to take responsibility in order to stop the industrial decline. In Cologne, around 23,000 people and 25,000 in Stuttgart came together to support, which illustrates the broad mobilization in the industry, such as vienna.at reported.