In the traditional Cologne Ford Works there is a regular strike for the first time in the almost one hundred years of history in the location. IG Metall called on approximately 11,500 employees to put the work on Wednesday morning. The measure should last on Thursday morning until the end of the night shift.
The background is the planned reduction of 2,900 jobs towards the end of 2027. The trade union calls for a social collective agreement with high dismissal payments and accuses the business management without a concept. 93.5 percent of the IG Metall members had previously pronounced in a vote for the strike.
Electric offensive disappointed expectations
In 2022, Ford had invested around two billion euros at the Cologne location and switched to electric cars. But the sales figures for the new models were left behind expectations. The market share fell to only 3.5 percent in 2024. The popular small car for Ford Fiesta was already stopped in 2023.
Criticism of our mother group
Industry experts see dark perspectives. Ford is too small in the European car market to work profitably. The American mother recently ended financial protection, which increases pressure on the German location.
Experts ask for a sale of the European company, a joint venture – for example with Renault – or billion dollars investments in new models.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
