Trade unions demand peace: No rearmament for Germany!

Trade unions demand peace: No rearmament for Germany!

At the trade union conference “Win ​​the peace, not the war!” in Salzgitter, which took place on July 11th and 12th, a clear signal was sent against military build-up. Over 225 trade unionists and around 1,000 other participants followed the event via live stream. This conference was organized by the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung together with IG Metall Salzgitter-Peine, and well-known representatives of Belgian trade unions as well as members of the Bundestag and European Parliament were also present. The opening by Ulrike Eifler made it clear that the trade unions must be an active part of the peace movement.

Matthias Wilhelm, the first representative of IG Metall Salzgitter-Peine, strongly criticized the financing of armaments and described the situation in Palestine as genocide. He made it clear that an armament policy based on social partnership was not possible and referred to an application against rearmament from 2022. Dierk Hirschel, chief economist at ver.di, pointed out in his analysis that the 100 billion euro special fund had largely flowed to large arms companies. According to Hirschel, investing such money in military projects damages the social infrastructure in Germany and is unproductive in the long term.

The demands of the unions

The conference was also a place for reflection on the growing militarization, particularly in education. A youth panel discussed the effects of war propaganda in schools and universities. The resistance of migrant youth for the freedom of Palestine, represented by Yusuf As from the DIDF Youth, was also discussed. This shows that the peace movement is divided, with different views between the younger and older generations. The common call was clear: Peace can only be achieved through resistance to social cuts, job cuts, militarization and war.

Parallel to these developments, a broad alliance of trade unions is demanding that the massive arms investment policy that is being discussed in Germany and the EU be stopped. This planning of an armament program that is expected to cost hundreds of billions of euros is seen as preparations for war. The return of compulsory military service is also intended to attract personnel to the armed forces. Instead, the initiators focus on the ability to make peace and advocate greater investment in civilian areas such as education and health. These areas could not only improve the quality of life, but also create more jobs, which would effectively relieve pressure on the labor market.

A new peace order

The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) is also actively involved and is calling for a peace and security order based on the principles of the United Nations. This would make it possible to resolve conflicts through diplomacy and crisis prevention. After all, a record number of armed conflicts are expected worldwide in 2025, with devastating human losses.

The DGB believes it is essential that the increase in defense spending does not come at the expense of the social budget or education and research. The state's money should always serve the well-being of the people and not for military purposes. That is why a solid commitment to the basic values ​​of liberal democracy and the social market economy is required. International politics, characterized by competition between major powers, calls for a rethink that puts peaceful coexistence at the center.

Overall, the trade union conference shows that a new beginning is taking place in the trade unions, which signals courage and determination in times of rearmament. Peace and social justice must go hand in hand. The unions have the floor, and it's time for policymakers to listen.

For further information on the topic, please take a look at Yeni Hayat, Trade Unions Against Armament and the DGB.