Bayer MaterialScience in talks with employee representatives on the introduction of short-time working

In response to the sharp decline in orders and the consequent unsatisfactory capacity utilization, the Bayer subgroup MaterialScience (www.bayermaterialscience.com) is holding talks with employee representatives. Both sides will endeavor to find the best possible solution for the company and its employees. Negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement on the introduction of short-time working are scheduled to commence on this Monday.

In the event that short-time working should be agreed upon at Bayer MaterialScience, 1,500 employees at the German plants would probably be affected. The measures are to be implemented in Leverkusen, Dormagen, and Krefeld-Uerdingen as from February, and in Brunsbüttel as from May. Cutbacks for managerial employees of Bayer MaterialScience are also being discussed. “Our intention is to spread the burden as widely as possible,” said Dr. Tony Van Osselaer, Labor Director at Bayer MaterialScience.

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Thomas de Win, Chairman of the Bayer AG Joint Works Council, called for all possible means of safeguarding jobs to be reexamined. “An intelligent solution needs to be found which helps to lessen the burden on the company while minimizing the impact on employees,” said de Win.

Similar measures have already been taken or are planned for the Bayer MaterialScience sites abroad. Bayer MaterialScience has a workforce of around 15,200 worldwide. A total of 5,500 people are employed in Germany, of whom some 2,500 work in production.

In response to the financial crisis, Bayer MaterialScience had already brought forward maintenance work, and either cut back or temporarily halted production in many of its plants throughout the world at the end of last year. The employees also made use of flexible working hours or took unused vacation days.

Bayer MaterialScience AG, Leverkusen, Germany