The article focuses on the German trade union IG Metall’s support for increased military spending and Germany’s rearmament, arguing that this position aligns the union with the government’s war policies and against the interests of the working class. It contends that IG Metall’s backing of substantial war credits demonstrates a betrayal of its members, prioritizing national interests and geopolitical ambitions over the immediate needs and well-being of workers.
The author criticizes IG Metall’s leadership for abandoning its traditional role of advocating for workers’ rights and instead endorsing policies that will inevitably lead to increased exploitation and hardship. The piece highlights the inherent contradiction between the union’s supposed commitment to social justice and its support for militarization.
The author concludes that any genuine opposition to rearmament and war must occur independently of, and in direct opposition to, established trade union structures like IG Metall. The article positions the union leadership as an obstacle to peace and social progress. A core argument is that the trade union apparatuses and their control within workplaces prevents success in struggling against rearmament and war.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/03/11/ksbo-m11.html