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28 November, 2005
Led by ICEM German affiliate IGBCE, 3,000 protestors on 23 November demanded that tyre maker Continental rescind its decision to fire 320 workers at its Stöcken plant in Hannover.
A day before the rally that occurred at the company’s headquarters in Hannover, Conti chief executive Manfred Wennemer reneged on a deal to maintain jobs and production levels by stating growth rates at the plant were not high enough. Despite profitability and cooperation from the IGBCE on workplace matters, Wennemer’s announcement stung workers and politicians alike, particularly in view of prior production shifts to plants in eastern European countries.
IGBCE board member Werner Bischoff, vice president of Continental’s Supervisory Board, promised the matter will get full attention at the Supervisory Board’s 6 December meeting, and said any further cooperative efforts with the company are now in danger.