The moment was carefully chosen, if the words sent are to be believed. The job is “a nice, exciting and challenging job that I really enjoy,” Johann Horn was quoted as saying in a press release on Tuesday. But: “Now is a good time to stop.” On April 1, Horn wants to give up his position as head of the Bavarian IG Metall and retire.
His successor as district manager has already been determined: Horst Ott will in future direct the fortunes of the industrial union in the Free State. “I’m looking forward to the new task and I really want to help shape the future of IG Metall,” said Ott.
Neither one step nor the other comes as a surprise. Horn will soon be 65 years old, so you can think about retiring. In addition, the collective bargaining round in the metal and electrical industry that ended last November was successful from a trade union perspective; the agreement provides for tax-free inflation compensation premiums, among other things.
The trained machinist Ott, on the other hand, has been the first authorized representative of IG Metall in Amberg since 2012 – and is therefore already familiar with the challenges of the industry through his position. The large corporations Siemens and ZF fall within the area of the Amberg office, and Ott is a deputy member of the supervisory board at the automotive supplier Grammer. The district commission of IG Metall had already agreed internally on the 57-year-old as the new boss, and the freestyle followed on Tuesday.
The collective bargaining agreement in the metal and electrical industry, which is so important for Bavaria’s economy, is valid for 24 months. Seen in this way, Ott has a little time to familiarize himself with the new position. However, there are other trades that require attention, such as the wood and plastics industries – and time is of the essence. The transformation in car manufacturing in this country continues to be a challenge, whether it is about autonomous driving or e-mobility. The most recent decision by the EU Parliament not to allow any new combustion cars from 2035 onwards should further accelerate the pace of change. Neither the company nor the union can afford to wait.
Making the industry more future-proof should therefore become a central task for Ott, as it was for his predecessor. In his own words, he is now looking forward to “more time for the family and the many things that are also fun”; With Ott, someone has been found “with whom the district management will be in the best hands”. Horn, a trained toolmaker, has been a full-time union official since 1987. In 2018 he succeeded Jürgen Wechsler as IG Metall regional manager.