Germany: Voith reduces the number of works councils at its headquarters amid digitalisation

Voith, the German industrial machinery corporation, will reduce the number of works councils at its company headquarters. As of March next year, when the works council elections are scheduled to take place, the number of such bodies will reduce from five to just one. The change is a reaction to increasing digitalisation at the company which, according to the firm’s leadership, is leading to greater intertwining between its different business lines, to the extent that its five departments could be considered as one.
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Digitalisation and growing crossover between business activities. The change, which was announced to Voith employees in September, will see the existing works councils based at the company headquarters in Heidenheim, which comprise a total of 63 members, replaced by a single works council with 29 people. The move will come into effect in March, when the works council elections, which take place every four years, are scheduled to occur. The existing works councils that are based at other Voith s

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