MAINZ, Germany—The IGBCE trade union has called for alternative strategies to the German tire plant closures and other restructuring measures announced by Michelin.
"We will not accept the (1,500) job cuts and plant closures so easily," Matthias Hille, group manager and head of the IGBCE Mainz district, said about the cutbacks unveiled by the French tire maker. "The planned clear-cutting is wrong. Instead of shutting down plants in a hurry, clever strategies are needed to react to the changed conditions."
The IGBCE is "not giving up on the locations and will continue to work on alternative concepts," Hille said, adding that Michelin must put "people at the center and remain in dialogue with us."
The union also noted Goodyear's recently announced plans to close its tire plants in Fulda and Fuerstenwalde, as well as Continental's moves to end production in Aachen by the end of 2023.
IGBCE board member Francesco Grioli rejected the tire makers' arguments about the need for plant closures in Germany due to increasing competitive pressures, rising energy costs and over-capacities on the market.
"We expect a clear commitment to the German locations and more commitment to the employees... even in economically difficult times," Grioli said.
