Yasmin Fahimi, the Chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), is defending the unions against criticisms regarding their role in ongoing reform discussions, while simultaneously leveling harsh accusations against employers. Speaking to the news portal T-Online, Fahimi dismissed claims that the unions lack a willingness to compromise, stating that suggesting otherwise “is surpassing absurdity.” She emphasized that the unions are not those who are supposed to silently accept what critics label as purely cosmetic reforms; compromise, she stressed, is a fundamental daily practice within the unions, whether during collective bargaining, in individual companies, or when negotiating site agreements.
Fahimi also refuted the notion that the unions are driving societal polarization. Instead, she asserted that those who are consistently telling people, “You are too sick, too lazy, too expensive,” are the ones responsible for creating division. According to the DGB Chairwoman, certain parts of the employer community have been doing just that weekly for over two years.
Furthermore, Fahimi disputed the criticism from employers that companies in Germany are suffering due to high labor costs. “Employers have been saying that for years,” she retorted. She questioned the logic of competing globally against countries like Eastern Europe or China solely on the basis of low labor costs, predicting that such a fight would be lost. According to Fahimi, the actual challenges facing German businesses are not labor costs, but rather geopolitical problems, soaring energy prices, and the persistently slow and neglected expansion of excellent infrastructure.
