A specific sector of the economy. Governments tackle air pollution with new rules and taxes Authorities implement fresh regulations and impose taxes on businesses to combat air pollution. - Thyssenkrupp workers call for job security.
Thousands of workers from the steel sector staged a protest in Duisburg on Tuesday to keep their jobs. With the message "Future over layoffs," the primary target was Thyssenkrupp's steel division, Germany's largest steel manufacturer with 27,000 employees, and local firm HKM. Numerous politicians attended the rally. The police estimated the crowd size to be between 6,000 and 8,000, while the IG Metall union claimed there were more than 10,000 participants.
The rally was sparked by the announcement last Friday that the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EPCG holding company had acquired a 20% stake in the steel division. The proposed strategic partnership with EPCG mainly concerns the supply of climate-neutral electricity due to the division's increasing energy requirements.
The employees complained that they were informed of the agreement just a few hours before it became public. The Works Council and IG Metall then accused Thyssenkrupp's CEO, Miguel López, of ignoring employee involvement. The Group denied the allegations, stating that they had been reporting on negotiations with EPCG for months.
Another issue discussed was the significant reduction in steel production capacity in Duisburg announced two weeks prior to the rally, which is expected to lead to job losses. Details have not been revealed.
Tekin Nasikkol, General Works Council Chair of thyssenkrupp's steel division, addressed the upcoming negotiations on a reduction in capacity in Duisburg. "Red lines" must not be crossed, he said, including upholding existing collective agreements, no layoffs for operational reasons, location guarantees, and no stopping of investments in the "green future." He also stated, "We have no problem with billionaires as long as they invest in steel, but they have to prove it to us."
Nasikkol announced a demonstration in Essen on May 23. The goal is to show López "where the steel hammer hangs." Headquarters of Thyssenkrupp are located in Essen. The May 23 Supervisory Board meeting is expected to decide on EPCG's entry, and the meeting is anticipated with great interest.
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) asked the management of Thyssenkrupp to share plans for the steel division. These must include prospects for all locations, including Duisburg-based HKM. Heil emphasized, "Nobody can or should make decisions without considering the employees. It never works. We are a social market economy, which means solutions can only be found through social and corporate partnerships."
Minister of Labor Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) appealed to the company to respect the social partnership. "I hope the management of Thyssenkrupp is aware of the responsibility they have towards our state and the people in the Ruhr region. And that they do not violate the tradition of social partnership," he said before the protest.
Laumann also spoke about the conversion of steel production to more climate-friendly processes. In a few years, Thyssenkrupp plans to replace a blast furnace with a direct reduction plant at a cost of three billion euros. The state and federal governments have provided the company with funding of around two billion euros. The NRW state's share of up to 700 million euros is the largest single grant in the state's history. "We provided this money to support the transformation in the steel industry and to make steel green and future-proof," Laumann said. He also stated, "We provided the money so that employees in the steel industry, suppliers, and processing companies have a future, not to fill investors' pockets."
Bärbel Bas (SPD), Duisburg's Bundestag delegation member, said, "Co-determination has always been a foundation of success and must remain so. The era of salami communication must end." Workers and their families have a right to fair treatment. North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister of Economic Affairs, Mona Neubaur (Greens), called for "fair involvement of the employee side." Strong co-determination has always served as a stable anchor for the company in its long history and during difficult times. "Let's not forget that."
At a recent event, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged for increased efforts to combat cut-price imports, particularly from nations like China. During her speech, she emphasized the need for more robust measures to shield European businesses from being undercut by unfair dumping practices and the impact of global market overcapacity, which is often fueled by significant government subsidies. Von der Leyen enthusiastically advocated for a future plan to maintain the competitiveness of key European industries, emphasizing the importance of sustainable steel manufacturing. "Steel production is crucial for Europe. The future of clean steel should be ensured here," she insisted.
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Source: www.stern.de
