On Wednesday morning, May 14: Gate four of the Ford Plan in Colon has been sealed with red and white barrier tape. On gymnastics, announce some sheets of paper “Enter through strike breakers gate 1.” But hardly anyone does this. According to David Lydtke, IG-Matol Union employee representative in Ford, more than 10,000 out of 11.500 employees lowered equipment for thores.
Thirty -year -old Ahmat is a development engineer in the Department of Production Development of Cosmeage Ford. “We are worried; we are Tense and worried,” he told DW.
His grandfather came to Germany in 1970 as a so -called “guest worker”, traveling by train from Istanbul to Cologne, where he worked on the Ford Assembly Line. Cözmez’s father was a production worker for the American carmaker; Hey, what is a full -time member of the Works Council, and the Ford as an employee sat on the supervisory board.
“Ford DNA is in us,” says cosmze. “Once Ford, Allways Ford” was the older generation mantra in your family: start working in Ford, and you have a job for life. Now, however, the American company wants to cut 2.900 jobs in this factory in Cologne.
Solidarity with Ford workers
The one -day strike in the history of the Cologne plant was the first official strike. In 1973 there was a Wildcat strike by Turkish community employees, but it was not conducted by an established association.
Ford workforce was not just out on strike that day. Members of the IG Metall Metrolwilders Union came to support him from all over Germany, as was done by workers from Mining and Chemicals Industries. Strikers also got a sense of solidarity from abroad.
Ahmat Cazmez told DW that when many people were ready to fight for their jobs, there was a great deal of uncertainty.
Ford shows signs of weakness
Industry experts fear that the future for Ford in Europe is looking foggy. “The situation is bad, and the approach is worse,” said Ferdinand Dudenhfar, director of the Bochum Center for Automotive Research (CAR). In his view, Ford is a very small player in the passenger vehicle sector to be profitable in Europe.
Ford’s European business has been damaging for some time. Compact Ford Fiesta Passenger Car manufactured in Cologne, which is a major commercial success, was discontinued in 2023 to make way for electric models.
Ford now manufactures two electric cars in Cologne. However, the company is much less than expected to sell, and the company’s investment of about € 2 billion ($ 2.3 billion) in the production of new electric cars has not yet been paid.
Anita Wolfal, an expert at the IFO Center for the Economics of Innovation and Digital Transformation, says, “It was late to switch to German car manufacturers into electromobility.” “It seems that Ford is struggling even more with it.”
Economic condition affects the motor vehicle industry
Ford clearly not only one -top pressure. Other car manufacturers including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are showing signs of weakness.
The motor vehicle area has been particularly affected by the recent economic recession. When the money is tight, people still have to eat – but they can do without purchasing a new car. Germany is currently in recession for the second consecutive year. Wölfl told DW that the entire auto industry consumer was looking at a degree of frugality.
Fear of international results
The wave effect of the Ford crisis in Cologne can be felt abroad, and a weak German car industry has results for many other regions worldwide.
“It is added, the trump effect. The US tafs on cars and automobile parts are damaging the automobile industry,” Volfl said. “The industry is characterized by a complex, internal integrated supply chain:” Even though no company is directly affected, can have indirect results of tariffs. ,
Fight for safety
Despite the poor approach to Ford, IG Metal’s David Ludke says the Sangh is still fighting for the company’s future, and to preserve the jobs.
Whether they should fail, IG Metal wants to ensure that all employees get a strong security trap with proper compensation, as well as transfer measures, and bankrupt safety. This recently became a priority and even more.
Earlier this year, Ford USA announced the capital injection of Arab Euro in its German business. But in doing so, it was abolished the so -called “letter of comfort” released in 2006, in which the American original company guaranteed the financial bond of its German assistant.
IG Metal and Works Council fear that cancellation of comfort letter means that, although back, he received a guarantee that EBL is not a trimmed 2032 2032, this assurance can now be in danger.
Fights on labor union
Despite all uncertainties, the strike has been affected. “Although we have not yet a result, the conversation has moved forward since then, and has gone in our direction,” Ludke says.
Details have not yet confirmed Bake, but IG Metal Coleon said it had reached a trend with German management at the major points addressed in further talks.
“Once they have coordinated with the corporate headquarters in the US, we will be decided on how we will move forward: whether we will continue to negotiate, or will there be industrial action further,” Ludke said.
This article has been translated from German.
