Workers Halt Production: Ford's Cologne Plant Faces Three-Day Strike

Cologne, Germany - Production has come to a standstill at the Ford plant in Cologne as employees participate in a three-day warning strike organized by the IG Metall union. Approximately 350 night shift workers gathered at a roundabout within the facility, brandishing torches and expressing their dissatisfaction through loud whistles and sirens, according to local media reports.

The strike is a direct response to unsuccessful negotiations regarding a social tariff agreement, which the union demands be established for all 11,500 Ford employees at the Cologne site. This agreement is particularly crucial in light of potential insolvency issues.

Ford workers are pushing for a basic compensation package of EUR200,000 for employees, reflecting their concerns regarding job security amid ongoing financial challenges faced by the company. Ford has refrained from commenting on the ongoing negotiations but has stated a commitment to finding balanced and fair solutions in collaboration with its social partners.

One major catalyst for the call for a social tariff agreement was the termination of a previous arrangement where the parent company, based in the United States, covered losses incurred at the Cologne plant. This change has raised fears among employees that the facility could be heading towards insolvency, particularly as the sales of two electric vehicle models produced in Cologne have been disappointing, and no plans for new, cost-effective models have been initiated from the US headquarters.

Recently, employees expressed their frustrations during a demonstration outside the plant, displaying a provocative message aimed at Ford management. The union has voiced concerns about the future of the Cologne site, warning that without immediate action, the facility could face a gradual decline.

As negotiations continue, the impact of the strike could serve as a significant signal regarding worker sentiment and the urgent need for a resolution between Ford management and its employees to ensure the sustainability of jobs at the Cologne plant.