DUISBURG (dpa-AFX) - Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has called on the management of Thyssenkrupp on behalf of the federal government to present concepts for the steel division. These must include perspectives for all locations, including the Duisburg steel manufacturer HKM, Heil said on Tuesday in Duisburg at a protest rally in front of thousands of employees from the steel industry.

At the event, the works council of the steel division and IG Metall protested against the management's approach to the recently announced deal with the new co-owner EPCG. They accused the Group Executive Board led by CEO Miguel López of ignoring the employee side in the run-up to the agreement on the sale of a steel division share. Thyssenkrupp rejects the accusations.

Heil: Do not decide over the heads of the employees

"This is the hour of social partnership and also of co-determination in the coal and steel industry," said Heil. Nobody can or should make decisions over the heads of the employees. "That never works. We are a social market economy, which is why there are only solutions with social and company partnerships and co-determination," Heil continued.

Regarding the entry of the EPCG holding company owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, Heil said that nobody was against foreign investment if it was about long-term interest in steel and not just short-term profits. "But trust must be created for this. When investors come here, they must clearly state their interests and must also be involved in the concepts."

Tekin Nasikkol, Chairman of the General Works Council of thyssenkrupp's steel division, reiterated the "red lines" that must not be crossed in the upcoming negotiations on a reduction in capacity in Duisburg. The existing collective agreements must remain in place. Dismissals for operational reasons must be ruled out. In addition, all locations would need a location guarantee. Finally, there should be no halt to investments "in the green future". On the planned EPCG entry, he said: "We have nothing against billionaires as long as they invest money in steel, but they still have to prove that to us."

Demonstration planned in Essen on May 23

Nasikkol announced a demonstration in Essen on May 23. The aim is to show López "where the steel hammer hangs". The Thyssenkrupp headquarters are located in Essen. The next Supervisory Board meeting of the AG is scheduled for May 23. Observers assume that the board will then decide on EPCG's entry.

Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, who has her constituency in Duisburg, and North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister of Labor Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) also spoke to the employees at the rally.

The steel division of the Thyssenkrupp Group is Germany's largest steel manufacturer. It employs around 27,000 people, 13,000 of whom work in Duisburg. Almost all Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe sites are located in North Rhine-Westphalia./tob/DP/jha