Christiane Benner, head of Germany's powerful IG Metall trade union, has launched a sharp attack on Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, signaling the start of a determined labor confrontation with the carmaker, according to an interview published by Der Spiegel.
Benner, who also sits on Volkswagen's supervisory board, used the interview to criticize Döllner after he appeared alongside Donald Trump on an election campaign stage. Her reaction to that appearance was captured in the headline of the Der Spiegel interview itself, in which she is quoted saying, "Ich habe mich fremdgeschämt" — a German expression that conveys feeling embarrassed on someone else's behalf, even without being personally involved in the situation. Der Spiegel frames this as Benner's personal assessment of Döllner's conduct rather than a statement of established fact.
In a separate quote accompanying a photo in the piece, Benner pushed back on any suggestion that she should soften her public criticism of the Audi chief, stating plainly, "Ich bin doch nicht die PR-Chefin von Herrn Döllner" — rejecting the idea that she serves as Döllner's public relations representative.
The interview, conducted by journalists Alexander Demling and Markus Dettmer, was published on Der Spiegel's website on November 4 at 09:42. It presents Benner's remarks as part of a broader declaration of labor struggle against Audi, positioning the union leader in direct confrontation with the company's top management.
Benner's dual role as IG Metall chief and Volkswagen supervisory board member places her in a particularly influential position regarding Audi, which operates as part of the Volkswagen Group. Her comments suggest growing friction between organized labor and company leadership, with the political optics of Döllner's appearance alongside Trump serving as a flashpoint for her criticism.
The report does not elaborate further on the specific demands or actions planned as part of the announced labor struggle, nor does it detail Audi's response to Benner's remarks. The interview's central message, as conveyed through its headline and the accompanying photo caption, centers on Benner's willingness to publicly challenge Döllner's judgment and to distance herself from any expectation that she would defend his public image.
The story underscores ongoing tensions within Germany's automotive sector, where union leadership continues to assert influence over corporate governance and executive conduct, particularly when political associations are perceived as at odds with labor interests.
Source: UA.NEWS
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