IBG-BCE boss Michael Vassiliadis shows his Hanover
Hanover. “Oh, Hanover can be so beautiful,” enthuses Michael Vassiliadis as we move from Ballhofplatz to the Leine in bright sunshine. He moved here 25 years ago, and since 2009 he has been in charge of Germany’s third-largest trade union, the industrial union for mining, chemicals and energy (IG BCE) from the lens-shaped office building on Königsworther Platz. And when time permits, he occasionally sits with his sons, who are now grown, on the banks of the Ihme near the Glocksee, playing the guitar and barbecuing. “In a situation like this, no one recognizes me here,” he says with a smile.
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It’s better like that. Because otherwise it could happen that the 58-year-old is involved in heated discussions. Phasing out coal, phasing out nuclear energy, the problems of gas allocation in the energy crisis: Vassiliadis usually negotiates all these issues that Germany is struggling with again in the Chancellery, in ministries, commissions and working groups. He is a welcome discussion partner because, like his union, he stands for pragmatic solutions instead of pinched positions.
At IG BCE they are proud of the fact that the last strike in the chemical industry took place in 1971, but that the real wages of chemical workers have nevertheless risen above the average for everyone. You just don’t like loud sounds so much – and the chairman reflects that a bit in his determined but calm way of conducting the conversation. Except, of course, when he’s playing the guitar. Then it can be a little louder.
Here you can see the video with Michael Vassiliadis on the guitar in the Hard-Rock-Café Berlin
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A YouTube video shows the union boss in 2017 on the stage in Berlin’s Hard Rock Café, playing the solo to “Knockin’ on heavens door” on a Fender Stratocaster. Otherwise, the performances are less spectacular: with a few union friends, he has a leisure band that gets together for small parties and celebrations. “We practice very rarely – but then it’s all just cover songs that we play,” says Vassiliadis modestly.
New Paths
If it’s not about music, but about (union) politics, then Vassiliadis doesn’t just imitate, but prefers to break new ground. In negotiations, he agreed on a one-year training preparation and thus a four-year training for young people who have problems in the three-year search to achieve their training goal. “It’s important not just to whine about the shortage of skilled workers, but to find solutions to qualify more people,” says the trade unionist. The project is a success. The graduation rate for adolescents who were otherwise considered difficult to place is a proud 86 percent. “But so far only a few large companies have been involved, now we have to broaden it,” says Vassiliadis.
Next to the Chancellor: Michael Vassiliadis in 2013 after talks on the energy transition next to the well-known Chancellor Angela Merkel.
© Source: Sören Stache (dpa / archive)
Even with the big issues of these days, he advocates the most pragmatic solutions possible – sticking to principles is no use after all. He negotiated the planned phase-out of coal as well as the nuclear phase-out – a photo shows him presenting the results alongside Princess Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). “Both exit scenarios have data for switching off the technologies, but unfortunately they were not coupled with clear specifications for the expansion of renewables,” criticized Vassiliadis. That is now falling on Germany’s feet, because “it is actually based on the gas continuing to flow.”
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First talks about regulations on short-time work
And because nothing is certain anymore, the union is already holding initial talks behind the scenes about regulations on short-time work in some energy-intensive sectors. One had to prepare oneself for the fall that the gas would actually become scarce in the winter. “Because when it comes to that, everything always comes at once. And we must do everything we can to keep the flies away,” says Vassiliadis.
Founding place: One of the predecessor organizations of IG BCE was founded at Ballhofplatz. A bronze plaque, currently covered by a scaffold, commemorates this. Here you can see Michael Vassiliadis on a walk through town in conversation with HAZ editor Conrad von Meding.
© Source: Tim Schaarschmidt
At the same time, he advocates temporarily suspending the phase-out of nuclear power if there is a threat of energy shortages, at least in the south, which has so far lagged behind in the energy transition through its own fault. He speaks plain language: Bavaria in particular opposed both wind power and the rapid construction of power lines out of political tactics. For this reason, the industrial centers in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg should not be cut off from energy now. However, it should be clear: “A concession to the nuclear lifespan must have a political price.”
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Lifetime extension for nuclear power until 2024?
If the energy companies let themselves be paid dearly to keep the nuclear reactors running, then Bavaria should also pay for this. And it also had to be clear that the line construction had to be done quickly in the south as well. “After all, we have to prevent the game from continuing like this after the crisis and that we’re still not further in two years,” says Vassiliadis. In his view, how long does nuclear power have to go on? “For a limited time, but until at least 2024,” he says: “It doesn’t make any sense for less than two years.”
In the union house: Michael Vassiliadis.
© Source: Tim Schaarschmidt
Vassiliadis knows that these issues contain sources of social conflict. But he advocates naming conflicts clearly and developing solutions instead of always cheating one’s way through with the lowest common denominator.
“Decadent segmentation of society”
“Actually, it was always the strength of this society that we were able to achieve something in crises,” he says. In the meantime, he acquired an emerging “decadent segmentation of society” and “lack of adaptability” in many areas. “We are no longer looking for answers to many questions, or there is immediate resistance. We are threatening to gamble away our post-war success in moral, arrogant debates that often result in deadlocks.”
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Favorite place: Michael Vassiliadis, chairman of the IG BCE, at the confluence of the Leine and Ihme on the banks of the Glocksee, here on a walk through the city with HAZ editor Conrad von Meding.
© Source: Tim Schaarschmidt
Times were different, more gripping. Vassiliadis is the child of a guest worker: His Greek father, like thousands, was recruited from that generation in the early 1960s because there was a lot to do in Germany. He started out as a simple worker in the mining industry, rose to become an assembly worker and was eventually recruited by Bayer to work as a chemical worker. “That was a huge career for him as a migrant,” says Vassiliadis: “He was socially secure and even worked out a company pension, which my mother still gets today.”
“Real latchkey children”
Because the mother herself worked as a cleaner, Michael Vassiliadis and his sister were “real latchkey children”. And of course the young Vassiliadis started his professional life as a laboratory technician trainee at Bayer after passing his secondary school leaving certificate. There, in Leverkusen’s neighboring town of Dormagen, he also joined the SPD – but union work appealed to him from the start.
Today, Vassiliadis is not only chairman of the third largest trade union in Germany with around 600,000 members and boss of around 900 IG-BCE employees, but also president of the European umbrella organization of industrial trade unions. Both offices mean that he is rarely at home during the week. “I lead more of a manager’s life – but I haven’t forgotten where I come from,” he says proudly.
Federal Cross of Merit First Class for Michael Vassiliadis
He is involved in various social projects, is active on the advisory board of the German-Turkish Society and the Association of German-Greek Societies, and is a member of foundations and supervisory boards. He also supports local initiatives – including the Hanover Music Center, a point of honor for a musician. This week he will receive the Federal Cross of Merit, First Class, from Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) for his commitment.
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Out and about in Hanover: City walk with Michael Vassiliadis, Chairman of the IG BCE, here in front of the union building on Königsworter Platz with HAZ editor Conrad von Meding.
© Source: Tim Schaarschmidt
With so many activities, is there time for private life? After all, his partner Yasmin Fahimi is now on the road a lot as a union boss: In May she was elected chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation. “During the week we are both actually on the road,” says Vassiliadis. But both try at least to keep Sundays free as much as possible.
Then you can sit down in a Linden café – or by the water with a guitar and grill.
From Hanover