IG Metall with a membership of 2.2 million members, represents workers in industrial sectors of economy, including wood processing and companies. Despite the challenges trade unions face today, the union was able to increase its income of 535 million Euro in 2015 to over 598 million Euro in 2018. At the Congress it was reaffirmed that the organization will continue with its policy of allocating 15 percent of its reserves to continuously building its strike fund.
Among the 1,200 participants, more than 70 international guests including BWI affiliates from around 30 countries from all parts of the world took part at the Congress.
Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organisation addressed the delegates highlighting that IG Metall in its 127 years old history was a crucial actor in the development of Germany’s social market economy. He stated, “Today the Union is on the frontline as a key actor on behalf of the millions of workers in the transformative changes of the industry, technological innovations and the 4.0 industrial evolution in Germany.”
The IG Metall 24th Ordinary Congress adopted a Manifesto of IG Metall in a new era defining the goal of its work for the next few years: Shaping the transformation! Protecting people, shaping work, using digital opportunities! With safety, justice and self-determination!
IG Metall and BWI cooperate closely in the implementation of five International Framework Agreements signed with Faber-Castell, Schwan Stabilo, STAEDTLER, Wilkhahn and Pfleiderer and supports the BWI work in the wood processing sector and Future of Work, as its full member.