BeAT – Professional Development and Training CenterThe international symposium entitled »Climate, Markets, Justice – How the Economic Transition Can Succeed« took place on December 15, 2023, in the Rosensäle at the University of Jena. Numerous research projects from the Department of Labor, Industrial, and Economic Sociology at the University of Jena, including H2Well, TP B05 from the SFB »Structural Change of Property,« and BeaT, invited participants to engage in a practical exchange on selected transformation conflicts in the course of the decarbonization of industrial sectors.
Prof. Dr. Klaus Dörre (Work Sociology, Jena) kicked off the event with a keynote speech on the specific dynamics of socio-ecological transformation conflicts and the relationship between climate and class conflicts. He emphasized that although there are numerous areas of overlap between the two types of conflict, they are by no means interchangeable. Francesca Gabriellini (University of Bologna) vividly described how cooperation between the two arenas can certainly unleash broad mobilization potential, citing the experience at the GKN automotive supplier plant near Florence. It became clear that socio-ecological transformation conflicts also touch on questions of alternative forms of ownership and trade union co-determination, as Hans Jürgen Urban (member of the executive board of IG Metall) confirmed in his keynote speech. However, according to Mr. Urban, the specific system of labor relations in Germany gives rise to different types of labor disputes than in the case of the Italian GKN occupation.
This was followed by parallel workshops on the regional and sector-specific characteristics of an ecological transition. The focus was on those areas that are under particular pressure from conversion, such as the logistics sector and the automotive industry. The role of hydrogen in the ecological transition and possible alliances between labor struggles and climate protection, based on the #wirfahrenzusammen campaign, were also discussed.
The symposium concluded with a broad-based panel discussion moderated by Ines Schwerdnter. Christiane Benner (Chairwoman of the IGM), Franziska Heinisch (organizer at #wirfahrenzusammen) and Bernd Lösche (works council member at Opel Eisenach) discussed the challenges and strategies of transforming the economy towards a more ecological and socially compatible value chain.
We would like to thank all participants for the lively exchange and interesting insights!