Germany’s trade unions have warned that the AfD’s economic programme could cost hundreds of businesses and thousands of industrial jobs, while announcing protests against the government’s record on work, pensions and healthcare.
Yasmin Fahimi, chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), issued the warning on 18 September 2026 as the organisation intensified its opposition to the Alternative for Germany, the country’s right-extremist party. She also criticised the governing black-red coalition, saying its policies could not be glossed over and were worsening conditions for workers. The assessment and details of the planned demonstrations were reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing the German Press Agency.
The DGB has called demonstrations in 15 major cities on 26 September, including Berlin, Leipzig, Hanover, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. The protests will be held under the slogan “Fairly earned! Your work. Your health. Your pension”, linking opposition to the AfD with pressure on the coalition to strengthen protections for employees.
Unions warn of a break with Europe
Fahimi described the AfD as a party with right-extremist, including fascist, tendencies. She accused it of stirring hatred and dividing German society, while arguing that its economic programme would bankrupt Germany, particularly if the country left the European Union.
The warning centres on the consequences of such a departure for an economy heavily dependent on exports. Germany would face more difficult access to the European single market, greater trade and currency risks and a less attractive environment for investors. Industrial companies would also come under additional pressure, with potential consequences for employment.
Fahimi’s assessment was that the damage would extend beyond abstract economic indicators. Leaving the EU, she argued, could result in the loss of hundreds of businesses and thousands of industrial jobs. The DGB’s concern is that workers would ultimately bear the cost of a programme presented as a defence of national economic interests.
Joachim Nagel, president of the Bundesbank, has likewise warned that the AfD’s position could deter foreign investors from Germany and harm economic growth. His intervention reinforces the unions’ argument that confrontation with the EU would weaken, rather than protect, the industrial base on which many jobs depend.
A bid for working-class support
The AfD is seeking to win support among working-class voters by exploiting public anxieties over migration, industrial decline and inflation. Its appeal rests in part on presenting itself as an opponent of the political establishment and as a party willing to offer decisive answers to economic insecurity.
For the DGB, however, the proposed remedies risk intensifying the problems they claim to solve. A rupture with the EU would expose German industry to new commercial and financial pressures, while a weakening of investment could reduce the capacity of companies to maintain employment. The unions’ central objection is that AfD policies could hit precisely the industrial workers whose support the party is trying to secure.
That argument gives the protests a wider purpose than opposition to one political party. They are also intended to challenge the coalition’s handling of the labour market and public services, at a time when Fahimi says the government’s course is worsening prospects for work, pensions and healthcare. The DGB is demanding lower taxes on electricity and a stronger industrial policy, measures it believes could relieve pressure on companies and employees.
Pressure on the coalition
The government now faces criticism from two directions: the unions say it is failing to protect workers, while the AfD is using economic discontent to expand its support. The DGB’s response is to argue that social protection and industrial competitiveness cannot be separated from Germany’s relationship with the EU.
The immediate test will be whether the 26 September demonstrations broaden resistance to the AfD and increase pressure on the coalition to act on energy costs and industrial policy. The deeper question is whether voters worried about jobs and living standards will accept the unions’ warning that the party’s proposed break with Europe would worsen those fears rather than resolve them.
Should Germany’s government prioritise lower electricity taxes or a broader industrial strategy in response to the pressure from unions and the AfD?
