“The low demand for trucks has already forced us to cut many jobs and we are today very pleased with this solution, which means that we can pull back the latest announced reductions in Gothenburg. This agreement helps us to deal with the low utilization in a way that is beneficial for both the employees and the company”, says Staffan Jufors, President and CEO at Volvo Truck Corporation.
The employees in the Tuve Plant are already today working with a flexibility system. The basic principles are that you work more when the demand is high and less when the demand is low, with unchanged salary. This system has allowed the company to manage the variation in demand without job reductions for several years.
This new agreement is an extension of the flexibility system to avoid further job reductions during this extreme drop in demand. The main elements in the agreement are;
“ I am very pleased that we in a constructive dialogue with the Swedish union IF Metall have managed to find alternatives to further reductions. This agreement allows the company to keep valuable competence and 335 people can keep their jobs. At the same time this agreement helps us to reach the necessary cost reductions. Together, we are better prepared for the upturn that will come sooner or later”, says Staffan Jufors.
June 9, 2009
For further information please contact: Jenny Björsne, phone +46 31 66 45 23, e-mail jenny.bjorsne@volvo.com