Germany: Opel employees temporarily give up wage increase in return for employment guarantee until 2016

Bochum will close after 2016.  In a highly anticipated joint statement, Opel’s management and WC and the IG-Metall announced, on Wednesday night, the outline of a restructuring program for the German subsidiary, heavily in debt.  The details will be presented during the next board meeting on June 28.  In this plan, the management commits to bargain with the WC and the IG-Metall for the extension until 2016 of the agreement barring any economic layoff on its four German sites, including Bochum, which will expire in 2014.  Thus, the Bochum plant, which could have closed in 2015, got a respite, since the management declared that it was ready to maintain the site until the end of the current Zafira minivan.  However, after this deadline, the future is a lot grimmer.  Indeed, the management announced that it was going to negotiate the closure of the Bochum factory, which employs about 3,100 people, with the employee representatives.  “Given the economic situation and forecasts for auto demand, the plan currently being negotiated doesn’t provide for new cars in Bochum after the current Zafira model ends” warned Opel management, which recently closed the Antwerp site in Belgium. 
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

the site until the end of the current Zafira minivan. However, after this deadline, the future is a lot grimmer. Indeed, the management announced that it was going to negotiate the closure of the Bochum factory, which employs about 3,100 people, with the employee representatives. “Given the economic situation and forecasts for auto demand, the plan currently being negotiated doesn’t provide for new cars in Bochum after the current Zafira model ends” warned Opel management, which recently clo

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: Crédit Agricole signs first independent agreement on disability
On 8 December, French banking group Crédit Agricole and three of the four representative trade unions (CFE-CGC, CFDT and FO) in France signed a disability agreement for the period...
Norway: role of labour inspectorate strengthened to prevent sick leave
On 8 January, the Norwegian government issued a 2026 letter of assignment to the labour inspectorate, signalling an intention to strengthen its enforcement activity. The main objective of the...
9 January 2026
Czech Republic: employers required to contribute to retirement savings for employees in high-risk occupations
Since 1 January 2026, Czech employers have been required to contribute to the retirement savings of employees in occupations classified as high-risk (known as ‘category three’) due to...
8 January 2026
Spain: government wants 3.1% minimum wage hike
Spain's ministry of labour has informed the social partners of its intention to raise the minimum wage to €1,221 gross per month. This increase is expected to be approved by the Council of...
8 January 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
2
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025
3
Italy: collective agreement for rubber and plastics sector focuses on new skills
A month ahead of schedule, the Federazione Gomma Plastica employers' organisation and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions have renewed the collective agreement for the rubber and...
5 January 2026
4
EU: revised EWC directive published in official journal
The revision of the European Works Councils Directive, adopted by the European Parliament on 9 October, was published on 11 December in the EU’s official journal. Initiated in early 2023 by...