Massive workplace reduction in Saarbrücken: IG Metall fights for ZF positions!

Massive workplace reduction in Saarbrücken: IG Metall fights for ZF positions!

Saarbrücken, Deutschland - The situation in the ZF plant in Saarbrücken is tense and shaped by great concerns. A few days ago, it became known that the car supplier ZF is planning to reduce jobs by the end of next year. The company signals a loss of up to 1,800 positions, and the forecasts indicate that this number could increase to around 4,500 by 2028 should not improve. This decision ensured disappointment and anger for the employees, especially since many employees in the past showed high flexibility and the work was considered productive and profitable.

Patrick Selzer, the first representative of IG Metall Saarbrücken, commented on the precarious situation of the workforce. "The employees show great concern. They are now being withdrawn from trust and the future perspective," he told the German Press Agency (dpa). Many employees are perplexed in view of corporate policy, which apparently relies on a strategy from the 1990s, where it was mainly about relocations and personnel loss.

massive job reductions in Germany

The disturbing news for the ZF workforce are part of a larger plan that the group had already announced in July: up to 14,000 jobs are to be deleted in Germany over the next four years. At the Saarbrücken location, where around 10,000 employees are currently producing and automatic transmission, the difficulties become all the more clear. The information policy of the corporate management has so far been opaque, so that the works council only informed the employees after internal communication about the plans of the managers.

The company spokeswoman assured that the reduction in personnel should be designed “as socially acceptable as possible”. Above all, this means that you want to rely on partial retirement and fluctuation to cushion the effects. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains a central topic for the employees whose future is in the stars and whose patience is put to the test.

displeasure on corporate strategies

Selzer also criticized that the ZF management apparently cannot set up a solid plan to secure the locations. Instead, employees are given the feeling that their concerns are not taken seriously within the corporate structure. "It is hardly understandable that a technology group like ZF offers nothing more than the mere relocation of jobs," says Selzer. This strategy, which does not meet a comprehensive solution, is not only disappointing, but also harmful to trust in corporate management. Against this background, valuable time has been wasted in negotiations and have now lost credibility and trust in order to develop solutions together.

The confusion and unrest among the employees is great, and IG Metall makes it clear that it will not give up without a fight. "We will use all available funds to defend the interests of the employees," emphasized Selzer, showing that possible measures could soon take effect: "There are no fixed schedule for promotions, but we are ready to act at any time."

How the situation will develop remains to be seen. ZF is currently analyzing all German locations on their competitiveness. The question of how the workforce can best support and the jobs can be secured is the focus of the efforts. However, if there is no successful concept for a positive economic turn, even the closure of the location could be under discussion.

The detailed reporting on these developments can be found at www.n-tv.de .