Press Release No. 06/2013 IG Metall Reaches Agreement with Opel on “DRIVE! 2022” Master Agreement as an Interim Step

Rüsselsheim – On Thursday, IG Metall reached an agreement with Adam Opel AG on a “DRIVE! 2022” master agreement. The existing protection against termination remains in place, and for the Manufacturing Engineering division, protection against relocation was agreed upon for the duration of the current contract. The agreement also regulates capacity utilization at the plants in Rüsselsheim, Kaiserslautern, Eisenach, and Bochum.

For Rüsselsheim and Eisenach, specific models were promised for after 2015; for Kaiserslautern, a components strategy—among other measures—is planned as part of the growth plan. Bochum will be converted into a components and logistics hub. Even after vehicle production ends in late 2016, at least four-digit number of high-quality industrial jobs will remain in Bochum. Through new business locations on the plant grounds, an additional at least four-digit number of jobs covered by collective bargaining agreements is to be created as part of the Bochum 2022 initiative.

The Bochum site will eventually transition to a two-shift operation. The agreement therefore provides for a voluntary severance program for approximately 700 jobs. Employees participating in the severance program can only be terminated with the consent of the works council and if a reasonable alternative job has been offered. These interim steps are intended to secure the German locations and Opel jobs. The stated goal remains to improve Opel’s market position and contribute to resolving the serious economic situation at Opel.

“Negotiations on key details of the future program will continue starting Monday. Only once the entire package is on the table can we put it to a vote by our members,” said Berthold Huber, First Chairman of IG Metall, on Thursday in Frankfurt. Subject to the further negotiation process in Bochum, this state of negotiations must be translated into a collective bargaining agreement. “Our members will then decide on the collective bargaining agreement,” said Huber.