Thousands of German steelworkers to protest in Berlin and Völklingen over industry crisis and climate rules

Background

The German steel industry is facing a deepening crisis, and IG Metall, the country's largest industrial union, is ramping up pressure on the federal government. On Friday, 12 June 2026, the union will stage coordinated protest marches in Berlin and the Saarland town of Völklingen to highlight demands for a competitive and sustainable future for domestic steel production.

Demands

The demonstrations centre on three core issues: the preservation of tens of thousands of jobs, a stable policy framework for the transition to climate-friendly steelmaking, and safeguards against unfair competition and cheap imports. Workers argue that without government backing, the shift to green hydrogen-based production will stall, leaving the sector vulnerable.

Berlin and Völklingen

In the capital, participants will gather at the Brandenburg Gate at 10:00 and march to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. A rally is scheduled for 11:00 in the adjacent Invalidenpark. Around 1,000 employees from roughly 30 steel plants nationwide are expected. Simultaneously, three separate marches will set off in Völklingen at 11:30, converging for a central rally at 13:00. Organisers anticipate several thousand attendees there.

Political pressure

Several high-profile politicians have confirmed their attendance. In addition to IG Metall vice-chairman Jürgen Kerner, Green party co-leader Felix Banaszak and Left party co-leader Ines Schwerdtner will address the Berlin crowd. Works council chairs and labour directors from the steel sector are also on the speakers' list.

“The government has done quite a bit for the steel industry in recent months — under our pressure. It must not stop halfway now.”

Kerner's words, released ahead of the marches, capture the union's frustration. While acknowledging recent policy steps, he insists that the government's support remains incomplete. The parallel protests in Berlin and Völklingen aim to send a unified signal that the industry's transformation cannot succeed without sustained political commitment.