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| Bundesarbeitgeberverband Gesamtmetall | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bundesarbeitgeberverband Gesamtmetall |
| Formation | 1949 |
| Type | Employers' association |
| Headquarters | Berlin |
| Region served | Germany |
| Leader title | President |
Bundesarbeitgeberverband Gesamtmetall is the federal employers' association representing large and medium-sized enterprises in the German metal and electrical industries, interacting with trade unions, government bodies, and international organizations. It participates in collective bargaining with IG Metall, engages with institutions such as the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany), and advises companies on compliance with legislation like the Works Constitution Act and directives from the European Commission. The association influences policy debates involving entities such as the Bundestag, Bundesrat (Germany), and international forums including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Labour Organization.
Founded in the aftermath of World War II and the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany, the association evolved alongside the reconstruction overseen by figures such as Konrad Adenauer and institutions like the Marshall Plan. During the Wirtschaftswunder era it negotiated with unions shaped by leaders from IG Metall and was affected by economic shifts tied to events such as the 1973 oil crisis and the European Economic Community. Reunification after the German reunification (1990) required reorganization to integrate firms from the former German Democratic Republic and coordinate with agencies including the Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany) and the Deutsche Bundesbank. In the 21st century the association responded to globalization pressures from actors like World Trade Organization and technological transitions linked to initiatives such as Industry 4.0 and the Paris Agreement.
The association's governance comprises a presidium and an executive board modeled on structures used by associations like the Federation of German Industries and coordinated with regional bodies such as the North Rhine-Westphalia employers' councils and chambers including the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Past presidents and executives have engaged with policymakers from the Chancellery (Germany) and met counterparts from organizations including Confederation of German Employers' Associations and international bodies like the European Round Table for Industry. Administrative functions interface with institutions such as the Federal Employment Agency (Germany) and legal advisers versed in statutes like the Industrial Code of Procedure (Germany).
Membership spans leading industrial firms and trade groups comparable to members of the Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft and ranges from conglomerates with operations in locations like Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria to medium-sized Familienunternehmen in regions such as the Saxony industrial belt. Affiliates include regional employers' associations, sectoral federations analogous to VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry), and specialized networks that interact with research institutions like the Fraunhofer Society and universities such as the Technical University of Munich and RWTH Aachen University.
As a central bargaining actor, the association negotiates sectoral agreements with IG Metall and participates in multi-party talks involving ministries such as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Germany) and arbitration bodies akin to the Federal Labour Court (Germany). It shapes frameworks for collective agreements similar to those in the chemical industry (Germany) and cooperates with bodies involved in co-determination like corporate works councils instituted under the Works Constitution Act and supervisory boards under the Codetermination Act 1976. The association's bargaining roles have implications for wage settlements in industries represented by entities such as Siemens and Thyssenkrupp and affect employment practices addressed at forums including the European Trade Union Confederation.
The association provides advisory services on labor law, social insurance, and industrial policy similar to offerings from the Federation of German Industries, and publishes position papers on taxation, energy policy, and trade that reference legislation like the Energy Industry Act (Germany). Its policy stances engage with climate and industry debates involving the European Green Deal, tax reforms debated in the Bundestag, and industrial strategy dialogues with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany). The organization also supports member firms on skills policy aligned with initiatives from institutions such as the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training and collaborates with research partners like the Ifo Institute for Economic Research.
Representing sectors that contribute significantly to Germany's export profile alongside players such as Volkswagen and BASF, the association's constituency accounts for substantial shares of value added reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Germany) and affects indicators tracked by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Central Bank. Its collective agreements influence wage growth metrics published by the German Trade Union Confederation and employment trends monitored by the International Labour Organization. Regional industrial output in areas such as Lower Saxony and Saarland is frequently shaped by policies and negotiations involving the association's members.
The association has faced criticism from unions like IG Metall and civil-society groups including Attac over positions on wages, labor flexibility, and social policy, and has been scrutinized by journalists from outlets such as Der Spiegel and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Controversies have arisen around collective bargaining deadlocks comparable to disputes involving Deutsche Bahn and debates over corporate governance practices similar to those in cases involving Volkswagen and Siemens. Environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace and policy analysts at institutes like the Wuppertal Institute have challenged some policy positions in the context of climate targets under the Paris Agreement.
Category:Employers' organisations in Germany