Employees and management of the cable harness manufacturing company Draxlmaier in Zrenjanin, which is set to shut down, held a one-hour warning strike in protest of the severance packages offered, Beta has learned.
The decision to strike was initiated by the Draxlmaier Industrial Union. Among their key demands is the payment of severance in the legally prescribed gross amount, increased by an additional €650 (in dinar equivalent) for each year of service with the company. They also requested that the specific severance amounts be clearly defined and displayed on notice boards.
The union further demanded that all employees whose contracts are terminated due to technological redundancy receive the agreed severance, regardless of whether they find new employment elsewhere.
Other demands include a transparent presentation of the relocation plan and the timeline for layoffs to the strike committee, a clearly defined schedule for vacating production halls to make room for a future employer, support for employment mediation, and a detailed explanation of the reasons behind the closure of the Zrenjanin facility.
Draxlmaier, a German company specializing in cable harness production for the automotive industry, announced in late February that it would gradually shut down operations in Zrenjanin by 2026. The decision was attributed to a decline in production volume within the European automotive sector and a lack of new orders.
Regional company representative Ralf Kapele stated at the time that Draxlmaier is aware of its responsibility toward employees and plans to offer an appropriate social package.
In response to the closure plans, meetings have taken place between local government officials, company representatives, and union leaders.
The Draxlmaier facility in Zrenjanin, which opened in 2007, once employed around 6,000 workers. Currently, about 2,000 employees remain.
