Moderate tones in the crisis: IG Metall before collective bargaining round

Political radicalism and a lack of compromise in the battle of interests seem to be emerging in this autumn's state elections. As fiscal and economic constraints tighten, there is a risk of further weakening of the governing coalition's decision-making ability, which is already in doubt. Where are there any moderate forces left that are united and united enough to act politically effectively based on a sober assessment of the facts?

It is IG Metall, Germany's largest and known to be combative union, which is now providing a somewhat encouraging answer: almost half of the employees in the most important (and largely crisis-plagued) industrial sectors are in favor of a "moderate" wage demand in the coming collective bargaining round. This is shown by a survey that the union used to gauge the mood among the 3.7 million employees. Another 17 percent would even think it would be right if IG Metall made a “small” or no specific wage demand.

How their committees will deal with this will only become clear when they decide on the exact request in two weeks. And there are also metal workers from the armaments and space sectors who see no reason for wage restraint. But one thing should be noted: the demands of the people represented by (tariff) political actors have not yet become as decoupled from economic realities everywhere as it sometimes seems.

This fall, the collective bargaining parties have the chance to set an example of their ability to compromise and shape things, perhaps even with charisma. But it would be too early for transfiguration. On the one hand, the employers' associations are also struggling with tensions within their ranks, with companies that do not want to accept any concessions. And there is this: both collective bargaining parties have become accustomed to an interventionist industrial policy over the years; If the cost calculation no longer works out, subsidies will help. Time and time again, this flow of state money was also a lubricant in collective bargaining disputes. The weaning is all the harder if it becomes weaker for fiscal or political reasons.