Magna closes work in Neumarkt: 110 jobs away - angry reactions!

Magna closes work in Neumarkt: 110 jobs away - angry reactions!

The Canadian-Austrian car supplier Magna has made a decision of far-reaching scope: the closure of the work in Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate. On Thursday, the employees were informed about the planned dismantling of 110 jobs, which led to great displeasure in the workforce.

The plant in Neumarkt has been a central point of contact for the production of auto tanks and other components for vehicle construction for many years. However, according to the management, the location should be completely shut down by the end of 2026. Production is to be moved to the sister to Austria, which will lose numerous jobs at Magna in Neumarkt.

claims for a future concept

Josef Barth, the works council chairman, commented on the closure announcement. "It has long been clear to us that our future is unsure," he said. In fact, the works council and IG Metall have been calling for a sustainable future concept for the Neumarkt work since 2018. Due to the changing requirements in the automotive sector, in particular through the mobility transition, the demand for Magna's products has decreased in Neumarkt.

The IG Metall Regensburg raises sharp criticism of corporate policy. Rico Irmischer, main representative of IG Metall, accuses the management of not being interested in a sustainable future for the location. "It is outrageous that such a strong location should simply be closed without serious efforts to develop to develop new products," says Irmischer.

The consequences of this decision are significant. According to the information that the employees received during an information event on October 10, they should be encouraged to look around on the labor market, as other companies may be interested in their skills. This news triggered great horror about the type of procedure that was criticized as "shabby".

The closure of the Neumarkter work will be gradually taken over in the next two years and is not only a hard blow for the employees concerned, but also for the region. "It is a slap in the face of the people who work for the company every day," Barth describes the disappointment and frustration of the workforce. "We had hoped that we could bring a new business to Neumarkt with commitment." But trust in corporate management now seems to be shaken.

a planned "hot autumn"

Magna is now planning to have talks with the employee representative in order to develop a compensation for interests and a social plan. "We don't let the work pull it off under our feet," announced Irmischer. In an already planned company meeting on October 21, 2024, the next steps of IG Metall and the works council will be presented with the aim of mobilizing the workforce for an upcoming conflict.

The work in Neumarkt has a long history; It was founded in 2002 and has undergone several changes of ownership since then. It was originally produced here under the Delphi brand until Magna took control in 2010. More than 250 employees were employed at the top. The decline to around 110 employees talks about the challenges with which the location is faced.

This Situation is part of a larger trend in the automotive industry, which is in a phase of upheaval and transformation. The future developments remain exciting, and IG Metall has made it clear that it will fight for the rights of employees, while the city and the region have to react to the effects of such massive changes. Further details about the closure of the work are in an article on www.nordbayern.de read.