The US automaker announced on November 20 that it will reduce its European workforce by about 14%, affecting employees in Germany and Britain.
The company's Cologne production site will bear the brunt of these cuts. This move comes as part of an ongoing trend, with the Cologne factory experiencing job losses for the last two years. In January 2023, Ford had already announced plans to cut 3,200 jobs in Europe, mainly in Germany.
IG Metall, the German union representing Ford workers, has voiced strong opposition to these plans. Kerstin Klein, a union representative, expressed deep concern about the future of the Cologne factory.
"In our view, this would be an incremental death," Klein told Reuters.
The union fears these cuts might signal the end of Ford's presence in Cologne. David Luedtke, a workforce representative, hinted at potential actions the union might take in response.
"We know the toolbox available in such a dispute and will not hesitate in giving the workforce the appropriate outlet for their anger,"Luedtke stated.
Ford cites weak demand for electric vehicles, poor government support, and competition from Chinese companies as reasons for the job cuts. The automaker currently employs 174,000 people in Europe, and these cuts will affect about 2.3% of its total European workforce.
This situation mirrors a broader challenge facing many traditional automakers as they navigate the transition to electric vehicles and face increasing competition in a changing market .
