Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
On 1 February 2017, Hasse & Wrede, subsidiary of the German braking systems manufacturer Knorr-Bremse announced to cut 125 jobs in Berlin-Marzahn by the end of June 2018. The company released plans to relocate the production of torsional vibration dampers to Liberec, Czech Republic.
However, the German Metalworkers’ Union in Berlin stated that 180 employees would be affected.
Knorr-Bremse announced that they are willing to find socially acceptable solutions and the company is negotiating at the moment about compensations and further solutions.
Furthermore, on 31 December 2017, another Knorr-Bremse subsidiary Knorr-Bremse PowerTech will switch from the collective bargaining employers association metal and electric industry Berlin-Brandenburg to the general economy associations for Berlin and Brandenburg, which has no collective bargaining policy.
The German Metalworkers’ Union criticised also that on 1 April 2017, Knorr-Bremse PowerTech will also switch from 35 to 42 hours working time per week without paying higher wages. However, the company explained that working 42 hours per week is common practise at other sites and that since 2006 there has been no more commitment to collective bargaining agreements.
Knorr-Bremse employs 1,040 employees in Berlin, 5,000 in Germany and about 25,000 employees worldwide. Hasse & Wrede employs about 300 employees worldwide.
Eurofound (2017), Hasse & Wrede , Offshoring/Delocalisation in Germany, factsheet number 90383, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/90383.