The future of Stadler’s Berlin plant has been secured following an agreement between management, employee representatives, and the IG Metall trade union.
A collective labour agreement, finalised on 9 April and approved by IG Metall members on 10 April, will underpin operations at the site for the foreseeable future.
The agreement includes a location guarantee for the Berlin facility until 2032 and job security provisions that cover the majority of roles until 31 March 2029. While the agreement outlines some changes to working conditions, including increased working hours, it aims to safeguard the plant’s long-term viability and avoid more severe restructuring.
This agreement follows a period of financial strain at the Berlin plant, despite healthy order levels and high utilisation. Challenges cited include ongoing effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical instability linked to the war in Ukraine, and associated rises in energy and material costs.
In February, Stadler had announced the need to enhance efficiency across its operations. The company stated that achieving a sustainable cost structure would require support from its workforce.
Jure Mikolčić, CEO of Stadler Germany said:I would like to thank our employees, the works council and IG Metall for the constructive discussions over the last few weeks. Together, we have managed to secure the future of the site and the jobs for the coming years.
Key provisions of the agreement include:
- Location security until 2032
- Job protection for most employees until March 2029
- Gradual alignment of pay structures with wider collective agreements starting from 2028/2029
- Preservation of base pay and no wage reductions
- Temporary increase in working hours to 40 hours per week, without additional pay
Jure Mikolčić added:I am aware that these measures will demand a lot from our employees. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our employees for supporting these difficult decisions. Their understanding and willingness to contribute to securing Stadler in Berlin is by no means a matter of course.
Looking ahead, the agreement aims to support further investment in research and development, enabling Stadler to remain competitive internationally. The site currently continues to work on delivering new underground trains for the Berlin Transport Company (BVG), with handover scheduled for late summer.
Jan Otto, First Authorised Representative of IG Metall Berlin said:Together we have achieved a good negotiation result. There is now a future for Stadler and its employees in Berlin. The location guarantee until 2032 is a clear sign of Stadler's long-term prospects in Berlin. I would like to thank all my colleagues at Stadler who have taken a clear position over the weeks and whose commitment has made a significant contribution to the success of the negotiations.
