Car manufacturers under pressure
Cologne Ford employees are ready to go to the permanent strike
It was two years ago that a Cologne Ford plant was opened for electric cars. The hope was great. But little is left of the spirit of optimism. Now there is probably work.
For the first time in Cologne, a tough industrial place is within reach in Cologne. As IG Metall announced, 93.5 percent of the IG Metall members active in Ford in a vote for the use of “all union funds, including strikes” in order to emphasize claims for employee-friendly regulations in a new social collective bargaining agreement.
The minimum approval of 75 percent was significantly exceeded. The turnout was 95.7 percent. “The people in the company are behind us,” said IG Metall spokesman at Ford Cologne, David Lüdtke. After the clear vote, the union now advises its further procedure that strikes could follow in the coming week – to what extent is unclear. Already in March and April there had been Warnstreks. The new jobs are likely to be more intense and persistent.
“We are determined to implement this mandate of the colleagues,” said the 1st representative of IG Metall Köln-Leverkusen, Kerstin Klein, with a view to the result of the original vote. “Ford has to move now – otherwise we will pull it through.” The trade unionist warned that the management warned that a tough industrial action could also cause damage to the commercial vehicle business in Europe, “not to mention the loss of image that this would mean for Ford”.
According to the IG Metall, it would be the first time that Ford in Cologne would have a stimulus in Cologne. In other long -lasting surveys, there was an agreement between the employer and the union immediately afterwards. Ford has around 11,500 employees in the city, most of them are union members.
Electrical investments have not yet paid off
The German subsidiary of the US group produces two electric car models in Cologne, the sale of which is slow. The investment of almost two billion euros with which Ford brought his Cologne plant on the electrical course has not yet paid off. The Germany business remains lost.
In order to reduce costs, the management in Cologne would like to reduce 2900 jobs by the end of 2027. However, it depends on the consent of the works council, since an agreement that was concluded two years ago still applies until 2032: it excludes operational terminations.
Verdi calls for high severance payments for employees who leave the company or whose business area is outsourced to external service providers, as well as financial protection for the remaining employees, should slide Ford works into bankruptcy. So far, this has only been theory, but has been possible since a guarantee was terminated by the US mother.
Since the negotiations for a new social collective agreement were in a dead end, IG Metall called on the original vote and received the hoped -for tailwind. Now the union can call for strikes – either limited or unlimited. A Ford spokesman said in response to the pre-vote that one respects the right to strike and continue to focus on constructive negotiations.
However, IG Metall announced that the negotiations were exposed until the employer presented a final offer.
dpa
Source: Stern
