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Plauen (dpa / sn) - After the commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN's plans for job cuts and plant closings became known last year, IG Metall fears that the plant in Vogtland will end in the next few months.

"We continue to try to maintain the industrial location in Plauen," said the managing director of IG Metall Zwickau, Thomas Knabel, of the German press agency.

Nevertheless, the final closure of the plant could be decided in the first half of this year.

The result of the relevant negotiations should actually be available by the end of 2020.

Last year the manufacturer of commercial vehicles belonging to the VW Group announced that it would cut around 9,500 of the 36,000 jobs and close the plants in Plauen, Wittlich and Steyr, Austria.

Knabel: "The board of directors remained tough and unapologetic in discussions with us and is not prepared to continue the location in Plauen, against any economic reason."

The 150 qualified Plauen employees and their knowledge in the field of bus conversions cannot be replaced by a plant relocation abroad, as planned by MAN.

"We want to find a solution for every colleague," added Knabel.

Saki Stimoniaris, Chairman of the Group Works Council of MAN Truck & Bus SE and Traton SE in Munich, criticized the plans: “It has nothing to do with a future-oriented realignment.

MAN has always been a solid, reliable partner and has benefited from the fact that regional structures have grown at the locations, ”he emphasized when asked.

"This applies to Plauen as well as to all locations."

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An appointment at the Munich district court in mid-January to reach an amicable agreement between the works council and the company remained inconclusive, said Stimoniaris.

Proceedings have been initiated because MAN has terminated the agreements to secure the location and employment, which means that operational dismissals are possible.

Now the legality should be checked.

According to the company itself, the executive board and works council are still negotiating the realignment of MAN Truck & Bus.

"Only when an agreement has been reached can we make statements about the specific measures and the effects on the individual locations and operating sites," said the press office.

According to Saxony's Ministry of Economics, confidentiality has been agreed on the ongoing talks.

Last year, Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and Economics Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) campaigned for the MAN board of directors in Munich to maintain the only East German MAN plant.

MAN Bus Modification Center Plauen