Plant closures planned at Contitech

Criticism from works council and trade union

There was strong criticism of the corporation's plans from the Continental Rubber General Works Council and the chemical trade union IGBCE. "We are deeply shocked and dismayed," said Matthias Tote, Chairman of the Works Council. He called for a financially strong safety net for his colleagues, some of whom worked in structurally weak regions.

IGBCE Group representative Michael Linnartz said that Continental had been lurching from one restructuring to the next for years. The workforce has had to make concessions time and again. "And yet every few months the company comes around the corner with new plans for cuts. This is helpless, destructive and demotivating," said Linnartz.

Continental recently made gains despite the crisis

Last November, Continental surprised with a significant increase in profits. Despite a slight decline in sales, the bottom line profit rose to 486 million euros in the third quarter, almost 63 percent higher than a year earlier. The Group was able to make noticeable gains both in the automotive supply sector, which was characterized by weakness in the industry, and in the tire division.

According to the company, Contitech employs around 39,000 people in 37 countries and markets worldwide. In Germany, there are around 11,000 employees at over 22 locations. The division focuses on development and material expertise for products and systems made of rubber, plastic, metal and fabric.

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