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Exchange with works councils – the goal is to preserve as many jobs as possible
In light of the planned job cuts at automotive supplier BorgWarner in Darmstadt and Langen, Mayor and Head of Economic Affairs Hanno Benz met with works council representatives Michael Meisterburg (BorgWarner Battery Systems Technical Center GmbH) and Bastian Wabnitz (BorgWarner Akasol GmbH, Darmstadt & Langen plants). Benz assured the works council representatives and the affected employees of his support. Both sides agreed to remain in close contact.
“The loss of hundreds of jobs would be a massive blow to Darmstadt as a business location and simultaneously weaken the future-oriented electromobility sector,” said Mayor Hanno Benz. “Considering the work done in Darmstadt and the existing expertise, these job cuts would be a real setback for the urgently needed transformation in mobility. The goal must be to preserve as many jobs as possible. Where this is not possible, socially responsible solutions are necessary.”
Works councils demand a clear perspective
The works councils also emphasize the importance of the locations: “Here in Darmstadt and Langen, we manufacture and develop a top-quality product with local expertise. Short-term profit expectations must not hinder the necessary long-term technological transformation,” explain Michael Meisterburg and Bastian Wabnitz. “High capacity utilization at the plants leads to a stable cost structure, secure jobs, and enables us to continue developing future-proof products ‘Made in Germany’.”
background
In 2021, BorgWarner acquired the Darmstadt-based battery specialist Akasol, which had emerged from a group of solar engineers at the Technical University of Darmstadt. Today, the US corporation employs around 800 people at its Hessian locations: approximately 500 in the factories and 300 in the "Battery Technology Center" (BTC).
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/dk)
