Exchange with works councils – the aim is to preserve as many jobs as possible
In light of the planned job cuts at the automotive supplier BorgWarner in Darmstadt and Langen, Mayor and Head of the Department of Economic Affairs Hanno Benz met with works council members Michael Meisterburg (BorgWarner Battery Systems Technical Center GmbH) and Bastian Wabnitz (BorgWarner Akasol GmbH, Darmstadt & Langen plants) for a meeting. Benz assured the works council members and the affected employees of his support. Both sides agreed to maintain close contact.
"The loss of hundreds of jobs would be a massive loss for Darmstadt as a business location and, at the same time, a weakening of the future-oriented electromobility sector," said Mayor Hanno Benz. "Given the work done in Darmstadt and the existing expertise, the 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 acceptable solutions are necessary."
Works councils demand a clear perspective
The works councils also emphasize the importance of the locations: "We manufacture and develop a top-quality product here in Darmstadt and Langen with local expertise. Short-term profit expectations must not slow down the long-term technological transformation," explain Michael Meisterburg and Bastian Wabnitz. "High plant capacity utilization leads to a stable cost structure, secure jobs, and enables us to continue developing future-proof products 'Made in Germany'."
background
BorgWarner acquired the Darmstadt-based battery specialist Akasol, which emerged from a group of solar engineers at the Technical University of Darmstadt, in 2021. Today, the US company employs around 800 people at its sites in Hesse: about 500 in the factories and 300 in the Battery Technology Center (BTC).
(Darmstadt - Red/PSD/DK)
