We urge ABB Headquarters to intervene directly, and to respect people, workers and their families.
Hitachi ABB management previously expressed commitment to develop its Hanau site in Germany. Last year, it reached, an agreement with worker representatives on the repositioning of the site to improve its economic situation. Its highly skilled workers have shown full commitment and tremendous flexibility over the past months to adapt to the pandemic situation. Despite all this, the Hitachi ABB Power Grids management has made the outrageous decision to shut down its plant in Hanau Großauheim (Germany). The future of 350 workers and their families is now at stake!
Confronted by the brutality of the announcement and the lack of dialogue with their management, Hitachi ABB Hanau workers and their trade union IG Metall have organised massive protests to oppose the plant closure.
Further to a successful warning strike held on 19 November in Hanau, IG Metall called for an additional full day of action today in Hanau. At the same time, Hitachi ABB Hanau workers hit the road to demonstrate in front of the company’s headquarters in Zürich, in full respect of social distancing and COVID-19 protective rules.
IndustriAll Europe and Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ trade unions from all over Europe express their full solidarity with the Hanau workers and support their demands to the company:
- All activities must remain open at least until 31 December 2023, with no relocation of production. At least 380 workers must remain on board till then.
- During this period, an industrial plan must be negotiated to secure a future for the Großauheim plant.
- Social dialogue must prevail and negotiations should resume, now!
At the demonstration in Zürich, Luc Triangle, industriAll Europe General Secretary, said:
“We urge ABB Headquarters to intervene directly, and to respect people, workers and their families. The way the company has acted so far is unacceptable. Dialogue with trade unions and workers must resume as soon as possible. We will not accept any further delay in launching negotiations to secure the future of the Hanau plant”.
“Hitachi ABB Power Grids has also a key role to play in supporting the energy transition and tackling climate change in Europe. It is time to invest in energy companies, rather than reducing industrial capacities, and European policy makers must take a firm stance on this.”
Contact: Andrea Husen-Bradley (press and communication) and Aline Conchon (policy adviser)