The conflict between Mercedes-Benz and the works council over the sale of the group’s own car dealerships has essentially been resolved. The company announced on Wednesday that management and the general works council had agreed on “essential key points” for possible transfers of operations to potential buyers. Mercedes-Benz had announced in the spring that it wanted to sell the car dealerships. Employees in the Rhine-Main region had also protested against the sale because they feared a deterioration in pay and social benefits in the event of a sale. Key points have now been worked out with the works council as part of a final agreement with the potential buyer, which are essential should be for the regulated transition to a new employer. “Above all, they include a process that ensures that the purchasers are bound to collective bargaining agreements and thus maintains the collective bargaining agreement working conditions – this includes collective wages, working hours, vacation days, Christmas bonuses and other elements,” it says. In concrete terms, this means that the branches should only be sold to interested parties who are committed to the motor vehicle trade tariff. 85,000 euros on average for employees in the event of a departure. According to the announcement, it was also agreed that dismissals for operational reasons must also be excluded by the buyer until the end of 2029 . The branch employees were informed about the outcome of the negotiations on Wednesday. There are 1,600 employees in the Rhine-Main-Neckar branch network, which, in addition to the car dealerships in Frankfurt and Offenbach, also includes agencies in Hanau, Darmstadt, Dieburg, Mainz as well as Mannheim, Heidelberg and Landau. More on the subject The statement continues , some other topics required further coordination and detailed clarification. The spokesman did not want to comment on which exactly when asked. As we have heard from well-informed circles, it is also about the amount of the one-off payment that every employee should receive as compensation for leaving the car company as an employer. This sum should be an average of 85,000 euros per employee, with the sum made up of a base amount that is the same for everyone and a variable payment that is measured, among other things, by the years of service. There are discussions with a specific interested party Not yet, says the spokesman. Negotiations on further details will continue after the summer break.
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