Labor union IG Metall suspends its push for a compressed workweek of four days. - Union IG Metall abandons push for a four-day workweek.
IG Metall Temporarily Pauses Demand for Four-Day Work Week
IG Metall, one of Germany's dominant industrial trade unions, has momentarily withdrawn its demand for the introduction of a four-day work week due to the present economic stress. In an interview with the Bild newspaper, IG Metall chairwoman Christiane Benner explained that a four-day week with full wage compensation is not currently among the union's priorities. However, she did not rule out the possibility of revisiting the idea in the future.
Benner elaborated that the current economic situation has resulted in employers reducing working hours at the expense of employees, rather than the union advocating for such a change.
Critical perspective from businesses
A comprehensive implementation of the four-day work week with full wage compensation would reportedly result in negative effects on the German economy, according to a survey conducted by the employer-friendly Institute of the German Economy (IW) in Cologne, published in March. The survey indicated that nearly 70 percent of the 823 companies surveyed feared that work would accumulate and Germany might lose its competitive edge internationally.
IG Metall has consistently urged companies to take responsibility for future-proof business models, investments, and ensuring job security. In the past, Benner has criticized the lack of future strategies by many companies and the insufficient investments being made.
- IG Metall
- Christiane Benner
- Bild newspaper
Enrichment Data Overview:
- IG Metall conducted action weeks at major employers along with hearings to address employees' concerns, including not only wage issues but broader working conditions and work-life balance. Unlike previous years, a four-day work week was not emphasized as a central demand this year.
- Although there is rising union interest in reduced working hours worldwide, IG Metall had downplayed the possibility of a four-day work week in Germany only a year before 2023. However, by the end of 2023 and 2024, successful negotiations for significantly reduced hours (such as 32-hour weeks) had occurred for specific bargaining units, suggesting a gradual shift in stance.
- IG Metall is currently engaged in high-profile industrial disputes, particularly at Ford Germany, where the emphasis is mainly on job security, wages, and broader working conditions, rather than a push for a four-day work week specifically. The union's primary objective is to safeguard jobs and negotiate comprehensive packages, although it is open to innovative solutions when needed.
- IG Metall may face pressure from both internal and external sources to adopt shorter work weeks more widely in the future, as other European countries initiate four-day work week programs and unions in the US and Europe increasingly include reduced hours in their requests.
- In the present economic climate, marked by industrial restructuring and concerns over job security, IG Metall is focusing primarily on job protection and wage increases. However, as the economy stabilizes or as public sentiment evolves, the four-day work week could become a more prominent demand.
- Despite temporarily pausing the demand for a four-day work week, IG Metall, led by chairwoman Christiane Benner, continues to prioritize vocational training within EC countries, enriching the workforce with skilled professionals for various industries.
- In the face of economic challenges and industry concerns, IG Metall continually advocates for improved business models with substantial investments, ensuring financial stability and job security, while keeping an open mind towards innovations like vocational training and potential changes in working hours in the future.
