Plant Ford Motor in Almussafes This links a new period of temporary regulation with the six-month renewal of the ERTE Redwhich remains the main way to adjust activity to the actual workload without resorting to mass layoffs. The extension, authorized at the institutional level, is applied with the same working conditions which had been used in recent months, providing a certain cushion of stability to the workforce in a particularly delicate industrial context.
This scheme is conceived as a instrument of internal flexibility which allows shifts, lines and equipment to be adapted to a decreasing production, while the Valencian factory continues to wait for them to materialize decisions regarding the multi-energy model and the associated volume which should arrive from 2027 onwards. In a European automotive sector marked by the transition to electric cars, high competition and slowing demand, temporary regulation acts as a handbrake to buy time without suddenly emptying the workforce.
Extension of the ERTE Red scheme: same framework and six-month horizon…
The factory management has confirmed that the ERTE Red extended for another semester, fully respecting the conditions agreed upon in the agreement signed for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years. In this way, reopening negotiations from scratch is avoided, and workers are offered a relatively familiar environment while the uncertainties about future workloadThe approval by the Council of Ministers This has been the key step to seamlessly link this new regulatory period.
In terms of scope, the scheme maintains 4.152 people included in the rotation system, with 996 daily positions in a regulated situationThe idea is that the impact won't always fall on the same people, but rather that periodic rotations will be planned to distribute the days of inactivity among the different groups. This mechanism had already been used in previous phases and is now becoming the standard way to manage the reduced production demand.
Turnover, inactivity, and financial coverage…
The heart of the model lies in the rotations of suspension periodsThe plant was forced to meticulously reorganize its teams and production lines to alternate who works and who stays home each day. almost a thousand positions On a typical day, the rest of the workforce keeps the assembly lines running, adapting the pace to a lower production volume.
In terms of remuneration, the agreement entails a relatively high economic coverage for the strike days, since around the 90% of the salary plus 100% of the bonusesThis combination significantly reduces the impact on employees' payroll, especially when compared to a traditional suspension without additional payments, and has been one of the points most valued by workers' representatives, who saw it as essential to protect purchasing power as much as possible during the transition period.
The complete maintenance of the supplements and other concepts related to the position It also helps employees maintain their usual income levels as much as possible, mitigating the impact of the downtime. For many employees, this approach is seen as the lesser of two evils compared to harsher scenarios, such as collective dismissals or structural salary cuts.
A flexibility mechanism in the face of low activity…
The extension of the ERTE Red is interpreted at the factory as a direct response to low production demand The lack of sufficient workload to keep all shifts operational is a problem. The automotive industry in Spain and throughout Europe has long been struggling with a decline in registrations, accelerated by the transition to electric mobility, competition from new players and consumer doubts.
In this environment, the temporary layoff scheme has become a key tool to align employment with activityThis prevents the company from resorting to more drastic solutions. The company argues that the current system of suspensions and reduced working hours allows it to adjust its workforce size to actual demand, while keeping its industrial capacity ready to restart production when new models are confirmed.
Union sources and company sources agree that this agreed flexibility It is what is making it possible to get through a period of low production without further structural job losses. In fact, the extension is seen as a kind of bridge until the uncertainties surrounding the industrial future of Almussafes are resolved, especially with regard to multi-energy model planned for 2027 and the number of units that will be assembled at the plant.
Industrial uncertainty and waiting for the multi-energy model…
The grand backdrop to the current situation is the uncertainty about the product plan which Ford will allocate to the Valencian plant in the coming years. After the end of production of some conventional models and in the midst of the business's transformation towards electric vehicles, Almussafes still lacks a fully defined roadmap regarding the range it will manufacture in the medium term.
This lack of specificity creates a climate of unease among the staffwhich needs clear signals about which models will be assembled, what production rates are expected, and how all of this will affect direct and indirect employment. The decision on the so-called multi-energy modelDesigned to accommodate different propulsion technologies on the same architecture, it is considered crucial for consolidating the workload and ensuring the factory's viability beyond the short term.
In parallel with the renewal of the ERTE (temporary layoff scheme), the majority union, UGTHe has requested to maintain direct contact with the company's European leadership. Specifically, he has requested a meeting with the president of Ford of Europe, Jim Bambick, at the Valencia plant itself, with the intention of addressing production prospects and necessary investments so that the transition to new models translates into stable employment and not a succession of temporary contracts.
Industrial transition and pressure from the European environment…
The situation in Almussafes is part of a profound transformation of the European automotive sectorPressured by EU emissions reduction regulations, the massive influx of Asian manufacturers, and the fluctuations of the global economy, adapting to electric mobility requires major investments in line modernizationStaff training and changes in the supply chain, processes that do not always advance at the same pace as market demands.
The Valencian plant, which aspires to consolidate itself as a leader in the production of more efficient and sustainable vehiclesThe company is currently in a sort of limbo, awaiting the finalization of timelines, volumes, and characteristics of new projects. Meanwhile, external factors such as rising energy costs, component supply bottlenecks, and competition from other production centers in Europe are impacting any long-term strategic planning.
All of this explains why the current ERTE Red system functions as a containment and fine-tuning mechanism rather than a definitive solution. Continuing the process allows for some breathing room while corporate decisions are clarified, but it does not replace the need for a solid industrial plan that sets clear objectives and guarantees a sustained workload for the coming years.
The role of trade unions and the priority of employment…
The unions, with UGT as the majority force, maintain that temporary agreements like the ERTE only make sense if they serve to to preserve as many jobs as possible until new projects arriveThey argue that this tool should be understood as an exceptional measure to address the occasional lack of orders and not as a permanent mechanism for managing the workforce.
Meanwhile, the trade unions are demanding action from the multinational corporation. greater clarity on their industrial plans, as well as an increase in investment in the plantThey also demand a firm commitment to training in new technologies related to electric vehicles and digitalization. Their main fear is that the lack of clarity regarding models and production volumes will ultimately lead to further job cuts in the medium term if the announced launches do not materialize.
Despite these concerns, The extension of the ERTE (Temporary Employment Regulation File) is seen as a reasonable solution to buy time. and maintain workforce cohesion, thanks to salary protections that are more robust than in previous temporary layoff schemes. Equitable job rotation and salary supplements mitigate the impact, although uncertainty persists. The new semester is thus shaping up to be a phase of adjustments and negotiations, where immediate stability depends on the temporary layoff scheme and long-term security on future industrial projects.
