Protest against the sale of Mercedes car dealerships in Bremen

Automotive industry - Protest against the sale of Mercedes car dealerships in Bremen

Approximately 2,500 Mercedes-Benz employees from North Germany have protested against the planned sale of the company-owned dealerships, according to union statements. At the Bremen plant, employees from Hamburg, Lübeck, and Hannover also gathered, as reported by IG Metall. "We didn't expect so many people," said union secretary Sven Kronfeld. "This is a strong show of support."

Nationwide, approximately 25,000 employees gathered, according to union statements. Demonstrations also took place at the headquarters in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, as well as in Sindelfingen, Rastatt, Düsseldorf, and Berlin. The action was held under the slogan "We stay together - on July 2nd and every day."

Not only employees and workers of the dealerships but also those from the Mercedes factories took part in the demonstrations. They expressed their discontent with drums, air horns, and banners. "The employees are fed up," said Works Council Chairman Ergun Lümali. "Whoever attacks one of us, they are attacking us all." All branches were closed. Many branches had already held meetings in the spring.

Approximately 8,000 people are employed by Mercedes-Benz's corporate-owned dealerships in Germany. One dealership can have several car dealerships. In the Bremen branch, around 300 employees work. Mercedes-Benz announced in March that they intended to sell the dealerships. Each branch would be evaluated individually, they said at the time. According to a spokesperson, no dealerships have been sold yet. The entire site should not be sold. The company also ruled out selling to pure financial investors. The goal is to secure jobs in Germany, they said.

Fears of worse working conditions after sale

The Works Council and the union fear that working conditions could significantly deteriorate if the sale goes through. Negotiations over the criteria for potential buyers have been ongoing for months. For example, tariff-agreed standards such as wages and pensions are at issue. An outcome is expected in the coming weeks.

Works Council Chairman Lümali said, "We will resolutely defend the rights and securities we have built up over the years." In addition, a financial compensation was desired. Concrete figures were not disclosed. To the management, Lümali said, "Whoever doesn't listen to us, who wants to push us over the table at the negotiation table, has seen today what happens." This is just the beginning, "We can still do a lot more."

1. The protests against the sale of Mercedes-Benz-owned dealerships extended to various car dealerships in Northern Germany, including those in Hamburg, Lübeck, and Hannover.
2. IG Metall, a trade union in Germany, reported that approximately 2,500 employees from North Germany participated in the protests.
3. The protest in Bremen was a significant event, with around 300 employees from the Bremen branch joining the demonstrations.
4. Similar protests were held in other parts of Germany, such as Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, Sindelfingen, Rastatt, Düsseldorf, and Berlin.
5. Mercedes-Benz announced in March its intention to sell its corporate-owned dealerships, stating that each branch would be evaluated individually.
6. The automotive industry in Baden-Württemberg, where Untertürkheim and Sindelfingen are located, is one of the largest in Germany and employs a significant number of people.
7. Fears have arisen among employees and union representatives about potential deterioration of working conditions if the dealerships are sold to new owners.
8. The Works Council and IG Metall are actively negotiating with potential buyers to ensure tariff-agreed standards such as wages and pensions are maintained.
9. Hanover, another city in Northern Germany, also saw demonstrations from Mercedes-Benz employees expressing their discontent with the proposed sale.
10. The union has made it clear that they will resolutely defend the rights and securities they have built up over the years, and are seeking financial compensation from the management.
11. The protests in cities like Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck, and Hanover demonstrate the broad-based support among Mercedes-Benz employees across Germany, including in notable cities like Düsseldorf and Bremen.

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