Factory strikes signal opposition to Conti jobs cuts in Germany 

Frankfurt , Germany – Employees have staged one-day strikes at two Continental automotive component plants near Frankfurt, in a bid to prevent job cuts and secure a ‘social collective agreement’.

According to a 16 April statement from the IG Metall trade union, Continental’s Rheinböllen automotive brake systems plant is facing “massive job cuts” while its Karben car parts site near Frankfurt is to close completely. 

The cutbacks, it stated, are part of the German group’s response to the Covid crisis as well as its ongoing transformation plans.

Workers “are fighting for their future” said IG Metall, adding that Continental's management “wants to make hefty job cuts and move jobs to low-wage countries.” 

As well as the 1,100-employee Karben plant, IG Metall has reported plans to close its factories in Babenhausen (2,570 jobs), Roding (520 jobs) and Conti-Vitesco in Nuremberg (almost 500 jobs). 

Overall, said the union, the planned cutbacks at the group would eventually affect around 13,000 Continental employees in Germany.