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SPÖ President and Regional Councilor Birgit Gerstorfer has called for an industry summit for Upper Austria. The aim is to draft a forward-looking and strategic industrial policy with representatives of all parties, social partners and trade unions rather than simply reacting to closures. In view of the threat of closure of the MAN plant in Steyr and the planned redundancies at FACC in Ried im Innkreis, unemployment benefits must also be increased.
The ultimate goal is to keep jobs, but tax money should not be injected into corporations unconditionally. Agreements like location guarantees would have to be concluded with clearly defined sanctions so that they cannot simply be rescinded unilaterally, Gerstorfer told a news conference in Linz.
The location and job security contract is an agreement between MAN’s management at Steyr and the works council, which will run until 2030, said industry spokesman Hans-Karl Schaller. It is a taboo break to stop adhering to these contracts and until now they could also be trusted. “That was not free,” said Schaller, a deal that eased working hours in production.
Actually:
End of sealed MAN Steyr: relocation to Poland and Turkey >>
Confirmed fears: At FACC 650 employees have to leave >>
At the center of the industry summit should be specific investments in places that would be affected by the shutdown of operations with public funds. Systemically important suppliers in the aeronautical and automotive industries must be supported to diversify their production or convert it entirely. Consideration for this should lie in co-financing the risk. The focus must be on changing economic development. “MAN is already building electric trucks. This development must be actively supported,” Gerstorfer said of the first proposals he wants to take to the summit. The governor must invite people to do it, it must be done very quickly, and action must be taken quickly.
Industry spokesman Hans-Karl Schaller reported that the VW-MAN Group had made huge profits and is now laying off jobs. The works council had started negotiations with the group’s management to avoid closure plans. “The workforce also looks forward to this determination from state policy.” An offer with a labor base, on the other hand, is the last card to be removed before the final move.
Overview:
From FACC to MAN Steyr to Voestalpine: wave of layoffs in Austria >>
In the context of the dismissals at the Ried im Innkreis FACC, which will take place this year, Gerstorfer again called for an increase in unemployment benefits. “Unemployment lasts longer than before Corona, it will be economically difficult,” he emphasized. (off / red)
