At the carmaker ford For the first time in Cologne, a tough industrial action is within reach. As the IG Metall announced, 93.5 percent of the IG Metall members working for Ford in a stamped vote for the use of “from all union means, including strikes” in order to emphasize claims for employee-friendly regulations in a new social collective agreement.
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. 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.
IG Metall warned management that a harder industrial action could also damage the commercial vehicle business in Europe. 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.
Electric 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 excludes operational terminations until 2032.
From the union side, 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 into bankruptcy. So far, this has only been theory, but since a guarantee has been terminated by the US mother.
Since the negotiations for a new social collective bargaining agreement had been in a dead end, IG Metall called on the end of the vote and received the hoped -for tailwind. Now the union can call for strikes – either limited or unlimited.