Fulda - Transfer company agreed for Goodyear employees
In connection with the planned cuts at Goodyear's tire factory, a social plan has now been agreed upon for the Fulda site. According to Anne Weinschenk, district manager for Mittelhessen of the IG BCE union, this was announced on Friday in Gießen. Similar agreements have been reached for the Goodyear site in Fürstenwalde, Brandenburg, and the administration.
In the transfer company, the employees will receive a large part of their previous benefits and have the opportunity to further qualify. Weinschenk spoke of a very good solution for the employees. The union, works councils, and employer had already agreed on the budget for the Goodyear sites affected by closures or cuts in February.
According to union statements, around 2200 to 2300 jobs could be lost nationwide at Goodyear. The Fulda site is expected to close in the third quarter of next year, and tire production in Fürstenwalde is expected to end by the end of 2027. In addition to these cuts, there will be reductions in administration, research and development, purchasing, and customer service, which will primarily affect the Hanau site and to a lesser extent the Cologne site.
During the negotiations on the social plan, the union has declared its readiness to waive a strike, Weinschenk stated. Through this approach, "an extremely high amount is now available, with which we can catch the employees," the union representative did not mention specific numbers.
Goodyear, according to its own statements, is one of the largest tire companies in the world with around 71,000 employees. The products are manufactured in 55 factories in 22 countries. The cuts were justified by the company with overcapacities, cheap imports from Asia, and inflationary pressure.
- The social plan for the proposed cuts at Goodyear's tire factory in Fulda includes benefits for the employees, allowing them to continue in a transfer company and further qualify.
- Goodyear's tire factory in Fürstenwalde, Brandenburg, and its administration have also reached agreements on similar social plans.
- The IG BCE union, works councils, and employer agreed on the budget for the affected Goodyear sites in February, which includes provisions for the Fulda and Fürstenwalde sites.
- During the negotiations for the social plan, Goodyear's suppliers, such as companies in Hesse and Brandenburg, may be impacted by the reductions in purchasing and customer service.
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber, with its numerous factories worldwide, including sites in Fulda and Fürstenwalde, is looking to minimize job losses due to the cuts through a social plan, with the support of unions like IG BCE.
