At the summer party of IG Metall 2022 in Berlin, the three put their heads together at a food truck: the board members Christiane Benner and Jürgen Kerner and the previous chairman Jörg Hofmann. When they whispered for so long, one observer quipped: “The three are just deciding who will be at the head of IG Metall in the future.”
At first glance, it looks as if that’s exactly what happened: The board of the largest German trade union nominated Christiane Benner, 55, as the successor to Jörg Hofmann, who is retiring due to age. The previous chief financial officer, Jürgen Kerner, 54, is to stand by her as second chairman. In fact, the plan was completely different. Months of confusion lie behind IG Metall, from which it is now trying to break out.
If the congress delegates elect the new leadership duo in autumn, it would be a historic step for the organization with 2.2 million members: For the first time since it was founded 132 years ago, the influential industrial union would be led by a woman. Christiane Benner has served as deputy chair since 2015, a kind of deputy for Hofmann with extended powers. The sociologist has worked for the union for 25 years. She has recently been very concerned with recruiting new members for the male-dominated workers’ organization, for example among employees. SPD member Benner also tried to persuade politicians to expand co-determination in companies.
Christiane Benner is to succeed Jörg Hofmann (centre) as the new head of IG Metall. CFO Jürgen Kerner (right) becomes second chairman at Benner’s side.
(Photo: Daniel Karmann/dpa)
With the new management duo Benner as boss and Jürgen Kerner as deputy chairman, the union wants to leave the turbulence of the past few months behind. There were two seeded candidates for the top post – Kerner was not one of them. Instead: Christiane Benner and Roman Zitzelsberger, district manager in the auto heartland of Baden-Württemberg, who underpinned his claims in 2022 with a spectacular nationwide wage agreement. Still boss Hofmann absolutely wanted to prevent a power struggle between the two candidates. A similar tug-of-war between two strong candidates had split the union for years two decades ago.
Hofmann suggested changing the statutes of IG Metall to make Benner and Zitzelsberger an equal dual leader. Both candidates got together and agreed to a team solution. But like them SZ As reported at the end of March, this amendment to the statutes fell through in the board of directors. Critics, for example, explained that such a change would give Zitzelsberger a career boost. Benner was thus clearly favored for the managerial job. Internally, she explained that she wanted to lead the union in a team with Zitzelsberger without formal dual leadership. Nominally, however, only the runner-up title would have remained for him.
Zitzelsberger, who was ill at the time of the controversial board meeting, suddenly withdrew his candidacy for the top position in mid-April. The 56-year-old justified this with his ailing health. After the fierce collective bargaining round and “a large number of difficult issues” there was a serious overload reaction. Instead, he wants to remain district manager.
A treat for Baden-Württemberg
Zitzelsberger’s departure raised fears that there would still be power struggles over the successor – or that it would take an unreasonably long time to find a partner for Benner. “The board doesn’t have a plan B,” said an insider. “We must not now experience what happened at the German Trade Union Confederation.” At the umbrella organization of trade unions, the successor dragged on for more than a year. Verdi boss Frank Werneke prevented the appointment of Michael Vassiliadis, head of the sister union IG Chemie, which publicly exposed him.
After Zitzelsberger’s retirement left a leadership vacuum, several names were traded for the post. Including some of the powerful regional heads, i.e. Zitzelsberger’s colleagues in other districts. The now nominated Kerner was already considered a possible quick replacement for the number two job.
Nadine Boguslawski, previously managing director of the union in Stuttgart, is to follow him as the new chief financial officer. The appointment of the 45-year-old owes her dynamism and rejuvenates the board. It can also be seen as a concession to the powerful district of Baden-Württemberg, which had hopes for the top job with Zitzelsberger. After his withdrawal, there were fears that the Baden-Württemberg delegates could stir up feelings against Benner’s leadership at the trade union congress. In addition to electing new leadership, Congress is set to decide that the organization’s executive board will be reduced from seven to five.
Kerner is a quick replacement for Zitzelsberger for a number of reasons. He is considered sociable and popular. As the union’s chief financial officer, he already works at the headquarters in Frankfurt and is involved in many processes. He is also responsible for industry policy and thus for important industries. Kerner sits on the supervisory boards of Siemens, MAN and Thyssenkrupp. After becoming managing director of IG Metall in his hometown of Augsburg at the age of 35, he had a meteoric career. In 2011 he was promoted to the board – like Christiane Benner, with whom he is now to form the management duo of IG Metall. They have been working together for a long time and have seen each other often, not only at the food truck at the summer festival in Berlin last year.