Eberspächer stops layoffs until 2027: New agreement under pressure!

Eberspächer stops layoffs until 2027: New agreement under pressure!

Eberspächer, the well-known automotive supplier based in Esslingen am Neckar, is setting an example in the industry: layoffs at the headquarters have stopped for the time being. The approximately 10,680 employees owe this to a new agreement that was decided as part of an additional collective agreement and is intended to apply until December 31, 2027. The news not only brings relief among the employees, but is also seen as an important step by IG Metall, although the union describes the agreement as a “bitter toad” because it deviates from the standard contract. Merkur reports that ...

The agreement was reached between Eberspächer, the works council and IG Metall and means that dismissals for operational reasons in joint operations are only possible with mutual consent. A positive aspect is the increase in weekly working hours at the main plant to 37 hours, but without an adjustment in salaries. Alternatively, employees have the opportunity to accept a salary reduction.

Financial losses and prospects

But the agreement also brings with it changes in pay: vacation and Christmas bonuses will be reduced to 50 percent of a monthly salary in 2025 and to 60 percent in the following two years. The hope remains that bonus payments will be paid retroactively if Eberspächer's economic situation improves. It's a bold deal, after a year in which operating profit almost doubled - although group sales fell 16 percent compared to the previous year, underscoring the need for these moves.

Another location that Eberspächer is revitalizing is Neunkirchen in Saarland. A future agreement was also reached here that excludes operational dismissals until the end of 2027. This means that over 1,000 employees are on the safe side. [BW24 reports on these developments].

Strategic direction

The company's strategy also includes the construction of a new factory in Bulgaria that will produce heaters for electric vehicles. Eberspächer is thus turning to new trends in the automotive industry. In addition, the emissions division “Purem by Eberspächer” has been run as an independent subsidiary since 2021, and rumors of a sale of this division have been rejected.

IG Metall is keeping a clear view: the future contract is not a panacea, but rather a first step in the right direction. An approach that is also being pursued by other automotive suppliers such as Mahle, where a future collective agreement has also been negotiated to exclude layoffs until 2025. IG Metall is developing the future and thereby creates space for innovation and qualification in times of rapid change.

In general, it is clear that the automotive industry is in the midst of change in which flexible solutions are required. Eberspächer is setting an example for employees with its measures - even if it entails some adjustments. A good hand in these volatile times can be the key to a stable future.