Ford's Cologne Workers Fight to Save Their Jobs in Protest Strike
Workers at Ford's Cologne branch take industrial action, participating in a significant walkout. - Workers at Ford's Cologne facility engaging in a mass work stoppage
Ford is planning a major overhaul in Germany, targeting thousands of jobs as part of its cost-cutting measures. Last year, Ford announced that up to 4,000 jobs would be lost in Europe by 2027, with 2,900 of those in Germany. The plants in Cologne are taking the brunt of these cuts.
Since dawn, pickets have blocked all entrances to the Cologne plants. The workforce in Cologne comprises 11,500 employees spread across production, development, and spare parts sectors. Despite the strike, some employees managed to get to work. Union leaders tried to persuade these employees to join the work stoppage.
Access to the site is still granted to select employees at certain nights to prevent critical facilities from breaking down. However, this group doesn't exceed three digits.
The strike vote saw a staggering majority of 93.5%, with an impressive 95.7% turnout. This is the first time the Cologne site has seen a strike following a vote. Previously, there were only warning strikes, unlike this time, which offer strike pay to employees.
In March, Ford's parent company in the US cancelled a patronage declaration that had been in effect since 2006. This move increased the possibility of Ford filing for bankruptcy in the future. According to Benjamin Gruschka, the chairman of the works council for Ford plants, a "short-term bankruptcy" is also a concern.
Ines Schwerdtner, the leader of the Left party, criticized Ford, saying it "slapped workers in the face." She argued that Ford's management had missed the opportunity to transition to electric vehicles and future-proof production, instead opting to delay and stagnate.
Negotiations between IG Metall and Ford continue. On Tuesday, Ford reached out to IG Metall with new proposals for a solution. "We will listen to these proposals and consider if negotiations can continue this week," said Kerstin Klein, the first authorized representative of IG Metall Cologne-Leverkusen.
The strike at the Niehl and Merkenich plants is set to end early Thursday morning.
Insight:
The Cologne workforce is protesting planned job cuts primarily due to Ford's financial losses, sluggish demand for electric vehicles, and a weak economic environment. IG Metall, the workers' union, is negotiating with Ford to manage job losses, but job cuts cannot be entirely prevented. The union's efforts focus more on mitigating the impact on workers' livelihoods. Ford faces intense competition from Chinese EV manufacturers, such as BYD, which recently outsold Tesla in Germany, exacerbating their challenges and impacting employee concerns about job security.
Suggested Headline: Ford Workers in Cologne Stage Massive Strike Against Job Cuts
- The Cologne workers, facing potential job losses due to Ford's restructuring, are urgently seeking aid from the community and industry stakeholders to mitigate the impact on their livelihoods.
- As Ford navigates financially challenging times, the union is advocating for additional aid to facilitate the restructuring of the steel industry and the automotive sector, thereby providing a more robust foundation for the transportation industry's transition towards electrification.
