The Japanese automaker Nissan closes its Barcelona factory and with this decision he will leave on the street 3,000 people.
First thing this Thursday, Nissan released the announcement that it communicated to its board and the Ministry of Industry last night. The Barcelona assembly plant closes, something that had already been speculated.
This closure represents the dismissal of at least 3,000 direct employees but also leaves others in the air 20,000 indirect jobs.
In early February, the situation at the Nissan plant in Barcelona was increasingly complicated. Management announced that would reduce the production of the electric van from Easter eNV200, which increased the fear of the unions to face a crisis without solution.
The Government warned Nissan on May 25 that closing its Barcelona plant will cost it more than a billion euros
The company justified this cut in production in the drop in sales, however, management guaranteed that Barcelona would continue producing. The unions accused this of “lie” because that cut would lead to a reduction in personnel.
Indefinite strike of workers
In May, last day 4, the workers of the Nissan centers in Barcelona started an indefinite strike to demand an industrial plan, which today remain after 23 days unemployed. Protests were called against the uncertainty that existed among the staff. Now, after learning that the Japanese company would make this decision, new protests have been called at 10:00 am on Thursday.
At that same time, the CEO of the automobile, Makoto Uchida, presents the company’s financial results and medium-term plan at a press conference.
For his part, the government warned Nissan on May 25 that closing its Barcelona plant will cost more than a billion euros, compared to the 300 million that would require guaranteeing its future, as well as meeting a “not peaceful” attitude on the part of the administrations involved.
Several Japanese media have published these days that the multinational was planning to close its Catalan plant and that it will transfer its production to Renault factories.
Sánchez said in January, when the coronavirus crisis had not yet begun, that employment at the plant was “guaranteed”
Something that has finally been confirmed, despite the fact that company workers and public administrations They have rushed to the end to try to convince management not to close the plant and asked the government for help in dealing with the situation.
Davos Forum
The factory has been losing workload in the last year and at the end of the past it raised an Employment Regulation File (ERE) with 600 early retirements. At that time, the Catalan plant was working at a level below 30% of its total capacity.
The coronavirus crisis it has only increased uncertainty and, in addition to the protests, part of the workforce is affected by a Temporary Employment Regulation File (ERTE).
Before the pandemic, in January the Davos Forum, where the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez assured that “job maintenance” at the Nissan plant in Barcelona was “guaranteed“after talking to the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.
Maintaining employment at the Nissan plant in Barcelona is guaranteed. During our meeting today in # Davos2020, the Government of Spain and @Alliance_RNM We have reaffirmed our will to continue working together to ensure the viability of the factory. pic.twitter.com/wUOJJtkwW4
– Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 22, 2020
The Government of Spain and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance They reaffirmed their “will to continue working together” to ensure “the viability of the factory”. However, the current crisis has worsened the situation until the factory closes.
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