Ford's management lowers the early retirement age to 55 in its proposal for the ERE

VALENCIA, 31 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The management of Ford Spain has presented this Friday to the unions its proposed agreement for the employment regulation file (ERE) that it intends to apply to 1,144 workers, in which it lowers the age to benefit from the early retirement program to 55 years, compared to the 56 that it raised at the beginning of the negotiations.

This Friday the sixth meeting of the ERE negotiation committee was held, in which the company has raised its proposal to resolve the surplus of personnel through the early retirement program and the severance pay program, with registrations up to 30 June and departures until December 31.

Regarding the early retirement program, all Ford Spain employees born between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1968, that is, the workforce between 63 and 55 years of age on December 31 -- initially the company proposed 56 years--, except those linked by a contract of access to partial retirement.

Workers between 55 and 56 years of age will receive a complement to public unemployment benefits of 80% of the regulatory net salary and those over 57 years of age will have 85%.

Regarding the severance pay program, according to the company's proposal, all Ford Spain employees born since January 1, 1960 would be eligible, with the exception of those linked by a temporary, relief or access to employment contract. partial retirement.

Employees up to the age of 54 would receive compensation equivalent to 45 days per year of service, with a maximum of 42 months of gross annual salary and a minimum of one annuity, with an improvement of 20,000 euros gross of additional compensation to the corresponding amount. . Employees between the ages of 55 and 63 would receive compensation according to the specific tables of the agreement.

The unions must now assess the company's proposal. The majority, UGT, demanded in the previous meeting a reduction in the age to be able to take advantage of the accompaniment plans towards retirement, at 54 and 53 years of age, as well as extending the validity of that plan until December 31, a matter which has been considered.

In addition, it called for "offering compensation amounts that are sufficiently attractive", as well as "real possibilities of job relocation" so that the youngest staff could be accepted.

For its part, STM has explained that, in its opinion, the proposal "significantly improves" the previous ones with the reduction of early retirement from 55 to 56 years, which allows the number of employees who can take advantage of it voluntarily to increase. It has also highlighted the extension of the departure period until December 31, since June 30 had initially been scheduled.

However, he has indicated that some proposals made by STM such as "respecting seniority", recovering subcontracted jobs or reducing the number of affected positions are not contemplated, nor is his request that it be expressly reflected in writing that the departures are voluntary. The next meeting will take place on Monday at 10:00.