IG Metall accompanies wind summit with rally | free press

2023-05-19 17:44:24

The union has been in a wage dispute with the Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas for more than a year. She is concerned about a successful energy transition.

IG Metall wants to accompany the next meeting of the wind power industry with the federal government on Tuesday in Berlin with a rally for fair working conditions in the industry. “We are increasing the pressure in Berlin,” said the Rendsburg IG Metall managing director Martin Bitter on Friday of the dpa. “Without attractive working conditions and collective agreements, the energy transition will not succeed.” Bitter is the negotiator for the largest German trade union in the wage dispute with the Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, which has been going on for more than a year. Because the negotiations are not progressing, Vestas has been on strike by IG Metall for months.

For IG Metall, the labor dispute is a pilot conflict in the wind industry, which could develop into a boom sector with the upcoming strong expansion of wind energy on land and at sea. The trade union has been complaining for a long time that many suppliers, such as machine builders, are subject to the collective bargaining agreement for the metal and electrical industry. In the case of manufacturers and in the service sector, however, the wind industry has so far largely refused to accept binding tariff rules.

“When a strategy for accelerating the planning, approval and construction of wind turbines is discussed in Berlin, the issues of good working conditions and securing skilled workers must also be considered,” said Bitter. “Vestas management is not doing that.” The union argues that thousands of skilled workers are missing for the faster expansion of wind energy. Collective bargaining rules made industry more attractive as an employer.

At the rally in Berlin, IG Metall is expecting its district manager for the coast, Daniel Friedrich, employees of Vestas and delegations from other wind turbine manufacturers and suppliers. (dpa)