Union progress in elections


Preliminary results from the German works council elections show that IG Metall, the country’s largest union, has increased its share of the representatives elected. 


This year, candidates nominated by the union won 76% of the seats in the industries covered by IG Metall, compared with 71% in the last elections in 2018. 


Works council members, elected by the whole workforce, play a key role in relations with the employer in Germany. And although the German structure means there are no major clashes with other unions in these elections, lists of non-union and anti-IG Metall candidates also aim to win support. 


IG Metall was able to increase the number of its candidates elected, not just in smaller companies but also in the biggest, like Ford, VW and Opel.