Ford Motor Company’s Almussafes plant faces a significant restructuring as it moves toward an electrified production future. The company informed workers’ representatives this morning of a plan to implement an Employment Regulation File (ERE) at the Valencia facility. The measure would affect 1,144 employees, a figure confirmed by the company and endorsed by the main union, UGT-Ford, along with STM-Intersindical. With a current workforce of about 5,750, the proposed reductions would account for roughly 20 percent of jobs at the plant. nn
Ford explains that the move is part of a comprehensive European operations restructuring that goes further by announcing workforce downsizing in Spain. The company emphasized that production of the S-Max and Galaxy has already been discontinued as of this April. Historically, these two models represented a portion of the plant’s output, and the closure of their lines contributed to the need for efficiency improvements. In 2022 the Valencia plant produced about 245,000 vehicles, with the Ford Kuga remaining the dominant model as the brand pivots toward electrification slated for 2026. n
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difficult negotiation
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Company sources indicate the downsizing plan would largely impact models with substantial remaining workload. While the S-Max and Galaxy are no longer in production, the broader strategy reflects market efficiency considerations that necessitated a broad adjustment, affecting several engine programs. Ford declined to provide a precise forecast on whether there will be a single ERE or multiple follow-up actions, and indicated that no additional plans are currently being drafted. n
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Factory leadership representative Carlos Faubel has commented that negotiations would be complex, noting an aim to retain as much work as possible and emphasizing that changes should be voluntary rather than traumatic. The development marks a challenging path for the workforce and for the site’s governance as a result of these announcements. n
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STM-Intersindikal described the layoffs as a dramatic reality and signaled a preference for voluntary exits as a path to minimize disruption. The union perspective centers on securing agreements that protect workers while advancing the plant’s long-term strategic goals. n
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according to plans
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Ford stated that it would work constructively with unions to mitigate the impact of the situation, aiming to preserve jobs where possible and to implement measures that support affected employees. The UGT urged that plans be devised to address this very sensitive scenario and cautioned that existing cost-cutting measures should not undermine essential investments. The dossier called for adequate resources to manage the transition and asked for clarity on how and when investments would be discussed in relation to the electrification commitment. n