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Job cuts at Wireco: 100 jobs in Kirkel threatened!
Wireco in Kirkel-Limbach announces job cuts of 100 jobs, despite IG Metall strikes. Social measures and location guarantees guaranteed.
Job cuts at Wireco: 100 jobs in Kirkel threatened!
In Kirkel-Limbach, a district in the Saarpfalz district, the employees of the wire rope manufacturer Wireco are facing a difficult time. Due to economic difficulties, the company announced that it would cut a third of its jobs. Specifically, around 100 of the total 300 jobs are to be cut. The reason for this step is global overcapacity and declining sales. Management reported that Wireco in Kirkel-Limbach reported a loss of around ten million euros at the end of April, which further exacerbated the situation. The negotiations with IG Metall turned out to be challenging, and fears of a possible relocation of production abroad, for example to Poland or Portugal, were swirling around.
The job reduction plan stipulates that the cuts will be made in a socially acceptable manner. Originally, 120 jobs were on the cut list, but these numbers were reduced through negotiations. Grandfathering protection for the remaining employees is offered for a period of 30 months, and dismissals for operational reasons for members of IG Metall are excluded during this period. An employment guarantee is also granted for 180 employees, while there is the prospect of permanent employment for trainees.
Strikes and negotiations
In response to the desolate situation and insufficient information from management, IG Metall called for short-term strikes. The workers were called on a three-hour warning strike, followed by a day-long strike at the factory, as Tagesschau reported. Despite tensions, hopes for a positive outcome remained as two further rounds of negotiations were announced. IG Metall's efforts proved successful when 93.3 percent of members voted to accept a social plan, ending the strikes on November 10th.
This agreement conveys hope for minimum security for the workforce and important measures such as a voluntary severance program, transfer measures and opportunities for further training. A return to work after a nine-day strike could bring much-needed stability to the company, despite the uncertainties that remain.
The situation at Wireco highlights the major challenges facing the industry in the region. The coming months will show how the company can deal with the new reality and whether the planned measures will actually secure jobs.
Further information about Wireco can be found directly at Saarbrücker Zeitung.