Opel is remaining tight-lipped as to the exact level of redundancies or compensation package for its workers at the doomed Bochum plant in Germany, which will shutter at the end of next year.
Some 3,000 staff work at the site in north-west Germany, but Opel has sweetened the medicine somewhat, offering a further 265 jobs in its current Bochum warehouse operations, in addition to the existing 430 posts.
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Around 200 further jobs will be made available at other Opel factories, but it seems inevitable the lion’s share of the remaining positions will end at Bochum, although the manufacturer says packages including a two-year transfer company will be offered.
“We will expand the warehouse and so we will have more capacity for operations,” a Bochum plant spokesman told just-auto from Germany. “We offer 200 jobs at other Opel plants and additional jobs at the warehouse.
“So we have jobs at other companies, the transition companies and compensation for losing their jobs.”
The spokesman would not be drawn on any level of compensation, but previous indications in Germany had indicated remuneration in the region of EUR100,000 (US$135,000) for staff with 20 years service, although this figure is unconfirmed.
A statement from Opel says its IG Metall union and the Bochum Works Council have agreed “major, binding corner points” on the collective labour contract for the plant, adding a further 40 apprentices would start from 2014.
“In this difficult situation it has been our goal to come to responsible and socially-acceptable solutions for our Bochum employees,” said Opel HR director, Ulrich Schumacher.
“We have achieved this together – in intense but constructive discussions with the Works Council and IG Metall. We have reached an agreement concerning the most important cornerstones of a social collective labour contract.”
The existing contract for the warehouse which is currently operated by the logistics company Neovia, will be renewed, with Opel investing EUR60m in this area.
No details are yet available as to nature of the transition companies, but the Bochum plant spokesman confirmed the regional government of North-Rhine Westphalia was taking a close interest in the move, which could see unemployment swell considerably in the town.
“Particular emphasis will be on the placement and qualification of employees in other fields of activity in the greater region of Bochum,” added the Opel statement. “This will be pursued in particular by the ‘Bochum 2022 perspective.’ Cooperation with other reputable companies should lead to attractive employment opportunities.
“The company will make sure the training of the current 171 Opel apprentices can be finalised properly in cooperation with TÜV Nord Bildung Opel. In 2014, 40 additional young people will get the chance to start their apprenticeship.
“Together with the ‘Bochum Perspektive 2022′ initiative and the ‘Lernfabrik’ project, we will create the prerequisites to make today’s training an integral part of a joint training system equipped for the challenges of the future.”
IG Metall was not immediately available for comment.
