BERLIN/VÖLKLINGEN (dpa-AFX): Steel industry employees are ramping up pressure on the German federal government with rallies in Berlin and Völklingen. Under the slogan "Steel has a future: with us!", steelworkers marched from the Brandenburg Gate to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. According to IG Metall, approximately 1,700 employees from more than 40 companies participated in the demonstration.

The union is demanding increased political assistance for the struggling steel industry, which is currently grappling with an economic downturn, high U.S. steel tariffs, and competition from cheap steel imports, particularly from Asia. In 2025, production in the German steel industry, which is primarily concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and the Saarland, fell to 34.1m tons of crude steel: a low point not seen since the 2009 financial crisis.

"Policy must create opportunities"

Furthermore, IG Metall warned against weakening European climate mandates, arguing that such a move would jeopardize the industry's transition to green steel. "We want to produce green steel, and our steelworks are becoming climate-neutral as far as possible. However, policymakers must consistently create the opportunities to make this happen," said Jürgen Kerner, the union's deputy chairman.

He cautioned against questioning the European Emissions Trading System, which is scheduled for review at the EU level in July. He noted that such uncertainty puts "tens of thousands of jobs at risk." At the same time, he emphasized the need for support for companies that cannot manage the investments required for climate-friendly production on their own. A rally was also planned for Völklingen in the Saarland.

Greens and Left Party offer support

Steel workers in Berlin received support from Ines Schwerdtner, chairwoman of the Left Party. "Steel is systemically important," she stated. She argued that the industry's crisis was not caused by the employees, but was instead the result of insufficient support during the transition to climate-friendly production. Felix Banaszak, co-leader of the Green Party, also voiced his support for the steelworkers.

The federal government has already introduced an industrial electricity price for energy-intensive sectors like steel. Additionally, EU member states have approved protective measures to shield the domestic steel industry from competition. However, IG Metall argues these steps do not go far enough. The union criticizes the fact that the industrial electricity price is temporary, subject to financing conditions, and only acts "homeopathically" against high energy costs./als/lea/ro/DP/jha