Buy-off sum BMW partly intended for social plan
The Works Council (OR) of VDL Nedcar is taking VDL to court. In this way, it wants to find out how the lump sum paid by BMW ends up. 70 percent of this would be intended for the much-discussed social plan for employees. The works council doubts whether all the money will go where it belongs.
The works council of VDL Nedcar is instituting summary proceedings against VDL. In this way, it wants to enforce inspection of VDL’s financial documents and, among other things, gain insight into the surrender amount that BMW has transferred to VDL due to the premature termination of the contract. Money that would also be intended for a (already controversial) social plan, now that thousands of Nedcar employees are in danger of losing their jobs.
It was originally intended that the successor to the new Mini Countryman would also be built in Born, but BMW unilaterally withdrew that contract. The Works Council wants to know what compensation has been paid to VDL for this, but the management refuses access, said Works Council chairman Abdel Lahssaini on Tuesday. According to Lahssaini, VDL’s conduct is contrary to the law on works councils. As far as he knows, 70 percent of the amount paid by BMW is intended for the social plan. But 70 percent of which, the works council wonders. The works council therefore wants access to the full amount. “As Works Council, we are not aware of this and are not given access to it,” says Lahssaini.
Also money from Rivian
The works council wants further insight into the agreements made with Rivian. The American car manufacturer paid €100 million for exclusivity in Born, so that VDL would not work with other potential customers. The Works Council wants to see the agreements regarding the transfer of that amount and wants to know whether that amount has been channeled to Eindhoven (VDL Groep head office). And if so, why that happened. “You cannot just remove €100 million from Nedcar and transfer it to VDL,” Lahssaini said earlier.
The Works Council wants full access to the documents. Lahssaini said she did not want to be confronted with pages full of black-striped unreadable text. In addition, the works council wants to bring a financial expert along to inspect the documents. In a response, VDL said “that the works council is and will continue to be welcome to gain insight.” However, the VDL spokesperson does not address the question of the conditions under which access is granted, something that the works council falls under. It is not yet known when the lawsuit will be heard.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl