06.09.2024

Strike called at Tadano Zweibrücken

Tadano Zweibrücken is facing further disruption after ongoing talks with the IG Metall union broke down this week.

The union then called a meeting on Tuesday which resulted in another strike being called, the union claims that 92 percent of its members - which are thought to number around 1,000 of the total 1,200 employees working at the two sites - voted in favour of the strike.

The strike began yesterday for an indefinite period, but while the union claims that all of the Zweibrücken employees came out, sources working in the plant have told us that it looks like the number staying away is closer to 250 to 300, although that might have changed today? Production has continued at the site however. The Lauf plant in Bavaria is unaffected.

Tadano announced plans to close the Wallerscheid plant - one of two facilities it operates in the Zweibrücken area - in February and focus its activities at the other facility in Dinglerstraße. This involved laying off around 400 people, although we understand that this has now been reduced to somewhere in the region of 300.

Tadano management has said that it is prepared to continue negotiations in order to find 'a constructive solution' while the union says that management alone is responsible for the callout as it has not been willing to compromise on any point. It stated: “IG Metall is ready to fight and the management at Tadano must finally take action. Our message is clear, we are calling on all employees at the two Tadano plants in Zweibrücken to stop working. Rallies are planned for the next few days.”

The company also said: “A neutral arbitration board has now been called, as previously decided and agreed with the works council. This independent institution will help to find a viable and binding solution for both sides. Tadano management very much hopes that an agreement can be reached quickly in order to return to normal business operations as soon as possible.”

Ultimate plan or new investments
The union is claiming that the current restructuring plans are just a start of an ultimate plant to pull out of the area entirely. This has a bit of a hollow ring to it, given that the company has started investing in new facilities at the Dinglerstraße site, including a new inspection, repair and rectification building, additions to the assembly lines and new test tracks while plans for a new paint shop are underway.

New collective bargaining negotiations were due to get underway this week.