Overview

• The strike, running from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, marks the first official labor action at Ford’s Cologne plant in nearly a century.
• IG Metall, representing the workers, is pushing for a social tariff agreement that includes high severance payments and financial security for employees.
• Ford Germany plans to cut 2,900 jobs—25% of its workforce—by the end of 2027, citing financial losses and declining market share.
• The plant’s transition to producing only electric vehicles, supported by a €2 billion investment, has struggled to deliver profitability or growth.
• Ford management has called for emergency talks in response to the strike, but formal negotiations remain suspended.