Gestamp will eliminate 280 jobs at the Abadiño plant over the next five years
The staff will be reduced as a result of the expected drop in workload after less allocation of parts for Mercedes's new electric van. The company has proposed voluntary departures and alternatives for the group that was to get a respite contract in 2026.
The Gestamp plant in Abadiño expects to lose around 280 workers until 2030, according to trade union sources, as the workload is expected to fall in the coming years.
Today, the factory in Bizkaia has about 700 employees, and its activity is largely subject to Mercedes' demands, which account for more than 70% of the centre's production.
The reduction is linked to the new VAN.EA electric van platform that the German company will produce at its Vitoria-Gasteiz plant. According to the same sources, Mercedeshas decided to reduce Gestamp's weight in the supply of components for this new model.
Currently, the Abadiño plant manufactures parts for the VS20 van, the production of which is expected to be completed by 2030. The company estimates that as that date approaches, the workload could be reduced by about 50%, resulting in a surplus of between 250 and 280 workers.
Trade union sources have pointed out that no immediate redundancies are expected, as there is still a significant volume of work at the moment, although the decline in activity will be gradually felt in the coming years, especially between 2028 and 2030.
At the same time, the management has proposed measures to manage part of the staffing adjustment, including voluntary departureswith compensation equivalent to wrongful dismissal and a maximum of EUR 30 000 (EUR 80 000).
In addition, an alternative has been proposed for 18 workers who were to enter into a respite contract by 2026, with a formula guaranteeing 90 per cent of their salary and 100 per cent of their contribution until normal retirement.
The Works Council considers that this proposal largely responds to initial requests and makes it possible to unblockthe situation for the group concerned this year, but warns that the underlying problems, loss of workload and possible future redundancies remain open.
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