The cooperation between management and employee representatives at Opel, which is not poor in disputes, has been updated by one chapter before the Darmstadt Labor Court.
As the FAZ learned from the work council's environment, the court has imposed a fine on the Rüsselsheim-based car manufacturer for repeated violations of the committee's co-determination.
The works council saw its rights violated several times in questions about employee transfers and changes in working hours and therefore took it to court.
As a result, he sees his legal opinion "fully confirmed", as stated in an information to the workforce.
Thorsten Winter
Business editor and internet coordinator in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.
Follow I follow
Because: The labor court imposed a payment of 135,000 euros against the German subsidiary of the Stellantis group.
The court had assumed 17 transfers and ten changes in working hours, which had occurred without first consulting the works council.
The court has set a fine of 5,000 euros for each case.
Due to previous violations, there was already an enforceable legal title.
"Agreements are no longer legally possible"
As the leaflet goes on to say, Opel's lawyer has lodged an appeal against the court order. A spokesman for the car manufacturer said on request: “The basis of the decision of the labor court is an older court settlement between Opel and the works council on the general compliance with rights of co-determination in the case of transfers and changes in working hours. The comparison can result in a fine for every minor discrepancy without the express, written consent of the works council. "
As a result, agreements with the works council are no longer legally secure for the employer, even if employees - as in the relevant cases - fully agree with the steps. Opel continued to say that this would be possible without a court settlement. "That is why we defend ourselves against the court settlement, which in our opinion is not legally tenable."