Car manufacturers under pressure
IG Metall: Constructive conversations with Ford – nevertheless strike
In most cases, anyone who works at Ford in Cologne is a union member. Participation in a strike should be correspondingly high. Shortly before, the management was looking for the conversation again.
Before the first strike at the Cologne Ford plants, some movement came into the stuck negotiations between management and IG Metall without a breakthrough. After a short -term meeting of the collective bargaining parties, in which the management presented its position, it was said on Tuesday evening by IG Metall that the conversation was constructive.
A union spokesman did not want to comment on content. There was no agreement, so on Wednesday it will be carried out as planned. At the end of the week, the discussions with management could be continued, said IG Metall spokesman.
For the first time in the almost hundred years of history of Kölner Ford-Werke GmbH, the union called for strike. Around 11,500 people are still employed by the Cologne Ford works. The management would like to delete 2,900 jobs by the end of 2027. In contrast, the Sturm union runs: it accuses the top of the company with a concept of concept with which the continued existence of the German subsidiary of the US group is at risk.
IG Metall demands high severance payments for those who voluntarily leave the company, and financial collateral for those who remain and could still lose their jobs later in a possible bankruptcy case. So far, such bankruptcy is only pure theory. However, by termination of a regulation of the US mother group, which had become guaranteed for its Germany subsidiary, such bankruptcy is now possible – before that it was not. Therefore, IG Metall is calling for a special financial shield for employees.
Ford produces two new electric car models in Cologne, the sale of which is below expectations. The company is therefore under pressure.
dpa
Source: Stern
