Car manufacturers in a predicament: Mayor sends letter to automotive suppliers, outlining firm request
In a move that has sparked controversy, German auto parts supplier ZF is reportedly considering a production shift from its Saarbrucken plant to Eger, Hungary. The potential shift could affect around 14,000 employees nationwide, not just in Saarbrucken, according to recent reports.
The news about the potential production shift has been reported by the "Saarbrücker Zeitung" and the "Handelsblatt". The IG Metall union, which represents workers at ZF, has announced protests at 20 German locations in response to the potential shift. The union's second chairman, Thorsten Dellmann, made these statements in the "Handelsblatt".
The Saarbrucken plant, ZF's largest, has long served as a cash cow for the company and has significantly contributed to financing the transition to electric mobility, according to the IG Metall union. The union criticises the reneging on jointly agreed agreements and suggests that the plant that has earned the money for ZF's transformation for years now also has to bear all the burdens.
Saarbrucken Mayor Uwe Conradt has written to ZF demanding transparency and warning against reneging on previous promises. He pledges full support to the works council and calls on other ZF site municipalities to show solidarity. Conradt also demands transparency from ZF CEO Holger Klein about the planned steps and the fulfillment of previous promises on site development.
The potential shift could affect around 8,500 employees, mainly in gear production. Up to 1,000 jobs have already been cut in recent years at the company due to the shift towards electric mobility, further fueling concerns about job security.
The shift is reportedly due to increasing pressure from the shift towards electric mobility, which reduces the need for traditional transmissions. However, the controversy brewing over the potential production shift has led to protest actions being announced for July 29 - parallel to the next ZF supervisory board meeting - at over 20 German locations.
A meeting between ZF's management and several mayors had already taken place in February, with the aim of coordinating closely in the future. Despite this, the conflict persists, with concerns over job security, economic impact, and labour conditions at the forefront.
Without specific details on the situation at ZF's Saarbrucken plant, these general points provide a framework for understanding the potential controversy and implications. The plans for the production shift have caused unrest among employees, unions, and local politicians, and the situation remains a topic of ongoing discussion.
The IG Metall union, in its statement to the "Handelsblatt," criticizes the potential reneging on jointly agreed agreements and questions why the plant that has financed ZF's transition to electric mobility should now bear all the burdens. In addition, ZF's shift from traditional technology like gear production could lead to job losses, as evidenced by the 1,000 jobs already cut due to the move towards electric mobility.
