Workers protest against job cuts at General Electric: “We will not leave these jobs without a fight” – Aarau – Aargau

The mood among the workers is bad. “You are frustrated. But they still struggle, ”said Thomas Bauer, president of the General Electric (GE) staff representation in Oberentfelden. It’s cold this Thursday morning. However, hundreds of employees gather in the parking lot of the production site. They stand shoulder to shoulder, expressing their displeasure with the clear planned plan.

The Oberentfelden production plant will be closed. The US corporation GE had informed employees on September 11 that their jobs would move abroad, especially to France. 436 Notices are no longer applicable. There are also 126 temporary employees. 562 jobs in total. Which especially infuriates employees: They were only assured in July that their jobs would not be cut, but instead would move to Birr.

Three mass layoffs in four years

With the token action, GE employees sent a clear message to the carpet. “We are not going to leave these jobs without a fight,” said Thomas Bauer right at the start of the rally. “Today is peaceful. But I don’t know if it will be peaceful, ”he shouted through the megaphone. “Maybe one day we will take action that will actually lead to a strike.” Time and again, Bauer’s combative speech was interrupted by loud applause from GE employees. They wore a red cross on a protective mask. They cannot be forbidden to speak.

Now management is being asked to look for really serious solutions and alternatives to massive job cuts together with representatives of staff, unions and employee associations. “Stop the closure of the Oberentfelden site!” Bauer yelled to the crowd. It was supported by representatives of the Syna and Unia unions, as well as the Swiss Trade Association and the Employees Association.

The uncertainty and helplessness on the faces of GE employees: it is an image that is not seen for the first time in Aargau. In fact, this would be the fourth massive layoff since the American corporation took over the gas turbine business from France’s Alstom in 2016. Since then, 3,000 jobs have already been cut in three waves. The group justified the fact that the promise made in July could not be fulfilled with bleak prospects for the future. A significant decline in orders is expected for 2021, a decrease of around 30 percent.

GE would have had a new excuse this year with Covid-19, says Bauer: “Of course, it makes business difficult. But other companies are also considering how they can use the resources they have freed up for new investments. “

There is still hope for employees

The chairman of the staff representatives is optimistic, the decision is not yet final: a consultation procedure is underway both at the local level in Switzerland and in the European works council. In this context, the employee side wants to make proposals on how to avoid downsizing. Thomas Bauer couldn’t be more specific. So much: management wants to shut down the Oberentfelden site and move the work to China, France and India.

“But this shift doesn’t work. In an alternative plan, we show that you can have two plants. One in France and one in Switzerland. “At the end of the consultation process, there will be an uphill battle.” But in the end, we will keep jobs, “says Bauer optimistically.