Job reduction: Thyssenkrupp steel division: hard cuts for employees

At the steel manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, IG Metall and Management agreed on a hard austerity course. After three days of negotiations, representatives of the employees and the board agreed on a redirect agreement that is valid until 2030 in order to bring the deficit company back into the profit zone. The vacation allowance should be canceled and the Christmas bonus is reduced, and the weekly working time is reduced to 32.5 hours. So far it is up to 34 hours. As a result, many employees should earn less in the future.

Germany’s largest steel manufacturer has come into the crisis due to economic weakness, high energy prices and cheap imports from Asia. As a countermeasure, the company wants to significantly reduce its capacities. Thyssenkrupp Steel wants to separate a total of 11,000 jobs and thus shrink to 16,000 jobs. There are currently around 26,300 employees. A location is to be closed in Bochum in 2028. A closure project for a work in Kreuztal-Eichen (NRW) is initially off the table.

With regard to the renovation collective agreement, company director Marie Jaroni spoke of an important milestone for the future viability of Thyssenkrupp Steel. “We break down excess capacities, improve efficiency and thus achieve a competitive cost level.”

The district manager of IG Metall NRW, Knut Giesler, spoke of a sustainable compromise that contains painful elements for both sides. “However, operational terminations are off the table and guarantees for locations and investments in the systems are also available – these are good signals.” The original “poison list” of the management with drastic savings plans was significantly reduced.

In order for the collective agreement to be valid, the consent of the IG Metall members is still pending at the steel manufacturer. In addition, the group mother Thyssenkrupp must ensure financing.