The world of work in IT and semiconductor companies is evolving rapidly. Flexible work models, international teams, artificial intelligence, and highly specialized roles now shape many employees’ day-to-day experience. It’s clear that union work also needs to evolve to remain effective in these high-potential industries.

That’s exactly where IG Metall’s workshop came in. Held on April 17–18, 2026, at the union’s education center in Berlin, the event brought together active members from IT, semiconductors, and other emerging sectors from Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony. They shared experiences, openly discussed challenges, and worked together to develop ideas for modern forms of worker representation. Using creative design-thinking methods, participants collaborated with a clear goal: making IG Metall fit for the future.

In his opening remarks, Jan Otto, head of the regional office, made the ambition clear: “Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony aim to become a nationwide competence center for the digital and semiconductor industries. The organization has shown its trust by allocating targeted resources. The fact that this event is happening proves that trust is being put to good use. You’re already taking the lead and actively shaping union work in your sectors.”

A key foundation for the discussions was a series of interviews with 28 union-active employees from ten IT and semiconductor companies in the Dresden and Berlin regions. The interviews revealed strong appreciation for IG Metall as a powerful, reliable, and solidarity-driven representative of workers’ interests. At the same time, they highlighted significant potential to further develop the union’s successful work and better tailor it to the specific dynamics of these fast-moving industries.

The interviews also pointed to clear priorities for the future. IG Metall is expected to play a more proactive role, making its expertise more visible — especially in areas like artificial intelligence, industrial transformation, and semiconductor technology — while communicating in a way that is transparent and easy to follow. International workforces and new professional groups create additional opportunities to engage people in new ways: digitally, with low barriers to entry, and increasingly in more than one language.

Core union issues such as fair pay, shorter working hours, and job security remain highly important. At the same time, linking these topics with questions of flexibility, training, and fairness offers a way to better address the concerns of IT specialists, engineers, and academic professionals. In terms of outreach, there’s clear value in using concrete examples, practical information, and a broader range of images that reflect modern workplaces beyond traditional industrial settings.

The workshop clearly demonstrated the potential of active employee participation. It marked an important step in further developing IG Metall’s work in these emerging sectors: practical, open, and forward-looking. The key takeaway: solidarity and modern workplaces are not at odds. On the contrary, when thought through and shaped together, they form the foundation for a strong union in the future.