Kabelwerk Meißen: Departure with new contracts and fresh wind!

Kabelwerk Meißen: Departure with new contracts and fresh wind!

in the traditional cable plant in Meißen, which can now look back on an impressive 150-year history, are the signs of change and departure. Since September 2024, Kai Kubatzky, as the new managing director, has been directing the company's fortunes, which has been owned by Helukabel, an internationally active family company since 2012. In the past three years, the Kabelwerk has invested double -digit million amounts in the modernization, whereby the restructuring of management plays a central role. The workforce of around 160 employees hopes to gain new specialists through improved working conditions and the inclusion in company decisions.

But the past few years have not always been easy. Works council chairman Knut reports of great dissatisfaction in the workforce, especially in view of strikes in 2020 and 2021, which should indicate inadequate working conditions and low wages. With the new tariff, which was achieved in April this year after intensive negotiations with IG Metall, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. As Sächsische.de , a wage increase was agreed within 19 months. In addition, further increases for 2026 should follow, which increases the mood in the company noticeably.

new perspectives through collective bargaining

The result of the collective bargaining not only offers higher incomes, but also more security for employees. In retrospect, the works council mentions a retrospective fee table from January 1, 2025, with various increases depending on the grouping. In addition, the remuneration in the Eckengeltgruppe E5 will increase by a good 16 percent. Such measures are intended to help increase the attractiveness of the cable work as an employer.

The process of realignment also includes a process of participation in which the employees can actively participate in the changes in the company. This is structured by a steering committee between employer and employee representative. IG Metall emphasizes that the knowledge about the need for constructive cooperation has made a decisive contribution to a positive course of the current collective bargaining round.

existing challenges

Nevertheless, there are considerable challenges for the cable. High electricity prices and sailing raw material prices, for example for fire inhibitors, which rose by 360 percent, are increasing the company. In addition, there are always problems with the reliability of deliveries and strong market fluctuations. In this situation, Kubatzky emphasizes the importance of communication at eye level and transparency in order to find a way through the stormy waters of industry.

The success story of the cable plant in Meißen is far from over. With an optimistic look into the future and the firm will to master the challenges, the management team wants to ensure that the company can continue to exist as one of the main actors in cable and line production. A good hand cannot hurt in carbon times!