Job reductions spark protests: Over 6000 employees demonstrate in Baden-Württemberg
Thousands Protest Against Job Cuts at ZF Friedrichshafen AG
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, approximately 6,000 employees of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a major German auto supplier, marched through the city center to the company headquarters in Friedrichshafen. The protest took place during a supervisory board meeting expected to decide additional job cuts, as part of a larger nationwide demonstration with over 12,000 workers opposing plans that include cutting up to 14,000 jobs in Germany by the end of 2028.
The protest was organised by the works council and was a strong statement of discontent among the employees. The demonstrators carried banners, shouted slogans, and voiced their demands for job security, future prospects, and an end to cost-cutting measures.
The employees are prepared to fight for their jobs, with similar protests planned in Saarbrücken and Schweinfurt. The resistance against ZF's austerity course is forming nationwide.
The company's management is being criticised for focusing too much on numbers and neglecting the people. ZF has already cut approximately 5,700 jobs since the beginning of 2024, and the planned cuts could potentially double that number.
The company's management is pursuing cost-cutting measures that include job reductions, plant closures, relocation of production abroad, and cuts to wages. These proposals have sparked strong opposition from workers and unions, with the local IG Metall union and works council leaders demanding a change of course from the management. They have criticised the company's strategy and called for more secure jobs and better long-term prospects.
Despite these protests, the company appears committed to the planned cuts and austerity measures, citing losses, high debts from prior acquisitions, and industry challenges like the shift to electric mobility. The company is scheduled to present its half-year figures on Thursday, July 31.
The workforce is looking forward to this date with mixed feelings, as they await the company's decision and continue to fight for their jobs and the future prospects of the Friedrichshafen location.
- The workforce's fight for their jobs and future prospects in the face of ZF's austerity measures could potentially influence broader discussions in politics, sparking debates about workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness within the general-news sphere.
- In the realm of science, economists and sociologists may explore the long-term effects of such Job cuts on the retirement prospects of the affected employees and the potential ripple effects on the German economy.
- Amidst the ongoing protests and debates, crime-and-justice experts might analyze any instances of civil disobedience or escalating tensions within the workforce andollen wider society, shedding light on potential ramifications for both the company and the community.
