STUTTGART (dpa-AFX) – The Südwestmetall employers' association has appointed a new chairman: Peter Sebastian Krause has taken over the position from 69-year-old Joachim Schulz, who announced his resignation after nearly four years, the association reported in Stuttgart. The metal and electrical industry, with its approximately 944,000 employees, is one of the key sectors in southwestern Germany.
Krause is a lawyer by training. He has been a member of Südwestmetall's executive board since 2010. Since 2022, he has served as the association's deputy chairman. Most recently, he was a board member responsible for human resources and labor relations at Rheinmetall AG. Schulz had already stated at his re-election in June 2024 that, for personal reasons, the two-year term ending in 2026 would be his last.
According to Schulz, bringing forward the leadership transition by a few months now ensures continuity during the preparatory phase for the upcoming wage negotiations scheduled for this autumn. The sector faces enormous challenges. As such, these wage talks are of particular importance.
Krause announced that he intends to make collective bargaining policy a central focus of his work: “We need to create a framework that supports companies even better in successfully managing the transformation.” The success of wage policy, he said, must be measured by whether it is possible to slow down job losses and encourage more investment at sites in Germany./ols/DP/mis
