Socializing German Steel: The Movement for Public Ownership in West-Germany’s Steel Crisis 1980–1987

What is it about?

1981, in the midst of a global steel crisis, German shop stewards put forward a provocative demand: socialization of the West-German steel production. The movement was at first resented by the leadership of the metalworkers union Industriegewerkschaft Metall (IGM). But its momentum could not be stopped. In 1983 IGM’s national conference voted in favor of socialization. But in an industry suffering from overproduction, the workers’ bargaining position was weak. Eventually, the crisis was overcome by traditional recipes: state subsidies paid for a controlled reduction of jobs, but did not implement any form of public ownership. After a last upheaval in 1987 the movement for socialization died down silently. Its heritage lies in a new, form of unionism: networks of shop stewards challenged the centralist decision making of their union, protests of entire cities like Dortmund established a form of social movement unionism. Recently, socialization has been rediscovered outside the labor movement: Berlin tenants in 2021 won a referendum to expropriate corporate landlords. While the metalworkers unrest 1981-1987 was the last industrial movement demanding socialization, Berlin tenants started the first post-industrial socialization movement in Germany.

Featured Image