For the union of metalworkers in the ABC region of São Paulo, a lack of semiconductors will cause 2,5 Volkswagen workers to go on vacation
The automaker Volkswagen should stop production at the factory in the city of São Bernardo do Campo, located in the ABC region of São Paulo, for about 20 days, starting next Monday, the 09th.
What motivated the shutdown of the Volkswagen company, according to CNN Brasil, was the global shortage of semiconductors, which has also affected the information technology sector. Volkswagen's shutdown had already been announced, due to the shortage of semiconductors, and this Monday, the 02nd, the automaker suspended the second round of the industry that assembles the T-Cross sports model in Paraná.
whereas in Paraná, some employees had their employment contracts suspended (called a layoff, which can last up to five months) in the ABC region of São Paulo, workers on the two shifts will have collective vacations for the next three weeks.
According to the São Paulo ABC metallurgist union, around 2,5 Volkswagen workers will go on vacation at the unit, where the Polo, Virtus, Nivus and Saveiro car models are produced.
Crisis in the semiconductor sector
With the pandemic, the semiconductor sector was placed in an extensive supply crisis. In this context, we have seen the sector advance greatly on the one hand and decline on the other. This is because, while there was an interruption in the semiconductor production chains, due to the lockdowns imposed in the years 2020-2021, the quarantine made the digital side rise, as this fact greatly increased the demand for technological means.
It is in this bias that, if in the year 2022 there is no type of quarantine or lockdown, the forecast for the normalization of the semiconductor market is only in the middle of that year, 2022, although there are experts who predict this normalization only in the year 2023. To help the sector, Intel has already invested more than 500 million reais.
Volkswagen forms agreement with workers' union
Currently, the Volkswagen factory in the city of Anchieta produces around 800 Volkswagen vehicles per day. In March 2022, Volkswagen had already suspended activities at the factory located in the ABC region of São Paulo due to the shortage of semiconductors.
According to the general coordinator of the union's representation at Volkswagen in the ABC region of São Paulo, José Roberto Nogueira da Silva, Volkswagen has an agreement signed between the union and the management of the Volkswagen plant that guarantees perspective in crisis situations.
According to José Roberto, they are using all the flexible tools discussed in the agreement signed between the union and Volkswagen. This agreement encompasses favorable and unfavorable times to go through crises, as it provides predictability for both the Volkswagen factory and the workers, and also guarantees a certain stability to face crises like this one.
He also reinforces that the situation of semiconductor shortages is similar to what is happening with other factories in the sector and guarantees that there is demand for production, but with the shortage of semiconductors, service becomes unfeasible. He concludes by saying that everyone is looking forward to the resumption of semiconductor production as soon as possible.
Volkswagen do ABC Paulista is not the only one affected by the crisis
A Mercedes-Benz factory, in the months of March and April, also placed workers at the factory in the ABC region of São Paulo, in São Bernardo do Campo, on collective vacations due to the shortage of semiconductors. Employees who received urgent vacations were absent from the factory between March 14th and 25th and from April 18th to May 3rd. The union reported that, in March, 1.200 workers were affected by the measure and, in April, 5.000.
