Michelin wants 40-hour week

FRANKFURT – French tyre maker Michelin wants to increase the working week at its five German factories from 37,5 hours to 40 hours without a corresponding rise in pay, the daily Frankurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported Friday, quoting the head of Michelin’s German operations.

Michelin’s 5 750-strong German workforce had been informed of the plans and management was scheduled to begin talks with unions in November, the head of Michelin Germany, Juergen Eitel, was quoted as saying. “Pressure from competition and from customers is enormous,” Eitel said.”We can’t wait any longer.”The aim was to boost productivity at Michelin’s plants in Karlsruhe, Homburg, Bad Kreuznach, Hallstadt and Trier by 30 per cent by 2010, he said.Nampa-AFP”Pressure from competition and from customers is enormous,” Eitel said.”We can’t wait any longer.”The aim was to boost productivity at Michelin’s plants in Karlsruhe, Homburg, Bad Kreuznach, Hallstadt and Trier by 30 per cent by 2010, he said.Nampa-AFP