Berlin´s industrial diversity

IG Metall Berlin is gaining more and more members in traditional industry branches as well as in the digital economy. Since fall 2024, IG Metall Berlin has launched a campaign to secure industrial cores. “In the first six months, we conducted interviews to take a look at the diverse industrial companies in Berlin,” reports Jan Otto, President of IG Metall Berlin.

“With its industrial diversity, Berlin is more resilient towards the crisis. Siemens Energy's gas turbine plant, for example, is booming. The orders for large gas turbines mean that the plant is running at full capacity. Other companies in the energy industry are doing similarly well. But of course companies in other sectors are definitely feeling the effects of the crisis.”

IG Metall is calling for a nationwide day of action on Saturday, March 15. The future of the industry is at stake. Employees from Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony and parts of Bavaria will meet in Leipzig. “Employees from all over Germany are meeting in decentralized locations to demonstrate for an offensive industrial strategy and the preservation of their jobs,” says Jan Otto. “Around 1,800 employees from Berlin alone are expected to come to Leipzig.”

In Berlin, around 200,000 people work in traditional industry and the digital economy. “In Berlin, the impacts are not yet as severe,” reports Jan Otto. “But Berlin will not be spared. Right now, we need to become stronger in the companies so that we can tackle employers' plans to cut jobs immediately. With IG Metall having your back, the job will be easier - we're building our own future!"

Organizing the digital economy

The digital team at IG Metall Berlin is doing real pioneering work. Five colleagues with digital experience are approaching companies in the digital economy, providing support in setting up works councils and collective bargaining movements. Many new IG Metall members now come from software and development companies. Exact figures will not be published until after IG Metall's annual press conference in Frankfurt on January 27. New approaches are being taken to reach employees in the digital economy: An English-language website, all materials in English. The digital team is testing many new formats for addressing and working with employees. The workforce of companies in the digital economy is usually international, and the place of work may well be in India, as the teams work together online.

“It's exciting to meet people from many different countries,” says Jan Otto. “Our digital team reports that new members in India, for example, get up at three in the morning to attend an online members' meeting. Our trade union culture in Germany inspires many international colleagues.”

Bargaining round automotive craft sector coming up

“In 2025, the collective bargaining round in the automotive craft sector is on the agenda. Colleagues are organizing themselves in IG Metall because they see that more can be achieved when a strong workforce fights together with an experienced, strong trade union,” says Philipp Singer, Vice-president of IG Metall Berlin.

Several (german speaking) articles and news clips were published afterwards:

IG Metall: Krise trifft Berlin bislang nicht so hart - n-tv

„Arbeitsbedingungen oft wie im Mittelalter“ - Tagesspiegel 

IG Metall in Berlin: Schlüsselbranche Digitalwirtschaft - nd

Berliner IG Metall zielt stärker auf Softwareunternehmen - inforadio

IG Metall: Krise trifft Berlin bislang nicht so hart - Mitteldeutsche Zeitung

Abendschau, 4pm (from minute 8:05) - ARD

Newsblock at Abendschau (from minute 1:55) - rbb