The German union IGBCE is deeply disappointed by the recent events at GMB Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH in Tschernitz, Germany. Following the withdrawal of the originally planned investor, the site is now facing permanent closure, according to the union. The IGBCE says that with this decision, the EU is losing its last solar glass manufacturer. This means that Germany and the EU will become completely dependent on highly subsidised imports from Asia in a key area of the green transition. »This is not an energy transition — it is industrial policy capitulation,« the IGBCE said in a statement.
Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg announced on 7 July that it had filed for bankruptcy. Since October 2022, GMB has been part of Borosil Renewables Limited, which holds 86 per cent of the shares in the Interfloat Group. The remaining shares are held by Blue Minds Company.
According to the union, employees are set to be laid off as early as December. The notice periods run until March at the latest, after which the plant will face complete closure. »After months of hope, discussions, reviews and intensive negotiations, this is a heavy blow for the workforce. Our colleagues did everything they could to save this plant until the very end,« says Anis Ben-Rhouma, IGBCE Lausitz’s deputy district manager. »The fact that the investor is now pulling out is disappointing and destroys the trust that many had placed in the process.«
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