Goodyear Germany job talks end in failure

Three months ago, Goodyear announced it would cut up to half the jobs at the tyre factory in Fulda, Germany. Consultation with the trade union IGBCE and the plant’s works council commenced in June. These discussions came to nothing – last Friday, union and works council representatives announced that the Goodyear negotiator had unilaterally declared the talks a failure and ended them.

In a press release, the union and works council describe this measure as “unscrupulous,” with works council chair Ines Sauer commenting that Goodyear is “giving practically all the workers in Fulda a kick in the backside.”

A statement issued by Goodyear confirms that negotiations had “not reached a mutually agreeable outcome.” According to the tyre maker, arbitration is now unavoidable. Goodyear nevertheless says it will “keep all possibilities of communication open” employee representatives “should there be a wish for dialogue.”