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Fight for jobs: IG Metall demands a future for the Bremen Gestra factory!
IG Metall and the Gestra works council in Findorff are fighting to secure jobs and secure the location – protests and negotiations are ongoing.
Fight for jobs: IG Metall demands a future for the Bremen Gestra factory!
In Bremen-Findorff, Gestra's employees face an uncertain future. Management plans to cut 85 jobs, which is causing great uncertainty among the workforce. IG Metall, the union for the metalworking industry, has worked with the works council to develop a savings concept that is intended to secure the location in the long term and save as many jobs as possible. A first step in putting this plan into action is the threat of a strike. However, this should only be implemented if the company management refuses to enter into serious negotiations. According to the Weser-Kurier, the pressure came from the parent company Spirax, which has announced that it will relocate parts of production from Bremen to other plants within and outside Germany, thereby reducing a quarter of the production jobs would be affected.
The anger of the employees is palpable. On June 26th there was a warning strike in Findorff, which around 250 employees joined to demonstrate for the preservation of their jobs. The Bremen managing director of IG Metall, Ute Buggeln, emphasized: “Operations came to a standstill.” This action was part of a broader protest in which the union is demanding a future plan for Gestra. In addition to job cuts, IG Metall fears a massive “cut-off” in production, while the bad news about the relocation of further jobs by 2027 is already known. Buten un Binnen reported that employees gathered in front of the plant for a rally to loudly voice their concerns and fears.
The role of trade unions
Trade unions traditionally play a crucial role in Germany when it comes to representing employee interests. The history of German trade unions is extremely turbulent, particularly during the Nazi era, when free trade unions were suppressed and replaced by the German Labor Front. However, after the Second World War, unions were allowed to be formed again, which led to the founding of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in 1949, which still represents the interests of workers in Germany today. Companies and politicians are often called upon to react to the signs of the times and to respect the rights of employees, especially in crisis situations such as those now threatening in the case of Gestra. Planet Wissen offers a deep insight into the development of trade unions and their importance for employees in Germany.
Like many unions, IG Metall has had to struggle with challenges in recent years, such as the decline in membership numbers, especially due to changes in the world of work. These developments also affect Gestra, which specializes in control technology for steam boilers, particularly in the production of valves. Maintaining a culture of negotiation is extremely important. The union has formulated its demands clearly: a waiver of redundancies for operational reasons and a guarantee to secure the location for the remaining workforce are essential concerns. A works meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, with the hope of clarity about the company's decision by then.
In these times of uncertainty, employees can only hope that the talks between IG Metall, the works council and company management will lead to a solution acceptable to all parties. There is a lot of work ahead of them to save jobs in Bremen and secure the future of Gestra.