Mercedes says will not close mining factory

Juiz DE FORA (MG)-workers at Mercedes-Benz in Juiz de Fora (MG) crossed his arms and crippled the production on Monday, 15. In the afternoon, they went to City Hall to participate in a public hearing convened by the local City Council to discuss the situation of the unit which, according to politicians, would be in danger of closing its doors. The date the Board was organized by Minas Gerais Legislative Assembly after reports that Mercedes would be studying transfer the operation to another State. The measure would leave unemployed more than 1100 workers. "Protect jobs and production in the city is very important," said Antonio Souls, Mayor of Juiz de Fora. The Communications Director of Mercedes, Luis Carlos de Morais, attended the hearing and denied the closure. "We invest R $700 million in Juiz de Fora and we had the greatest economic crisis in the history of this country", justified. He said the trucking industry works with 60% idle and cited the difficulties of producing in Brazil. "It's not easy, with so many problems, arrive in Germany and say that we want more investment." Marco Antonio Jesus, President of the State Federation of Metalworkers of Minas Gerais, charged more accuracy and said the automaker's continued production of truck cabins in the city remains a doubt. He said the company was benefited with investments from the State Government 20 years ago, when he opened the factory in Juiz de Fora. "So the company need to have social responsibility with the workers." Note adjustments, the direction of Mercedes-Benz said that "at no time informed that would produce in Juiz de Fora", because the unit has strategic importance for the group. The unit produces cabins for the trucks made at the factory in São Bernardo do Campo, in the ABC paulista. Without giving details, the company admitted, however, that there is a need for adjustments, "both in production and logistic processes", to make the company more efficient and competitive in the market. Reported that the R $2.4 billion of investments planned for 2018 to 2022, there is also a contribution to the plant. The company regretted the deadlock of officials and argued that the market is returning to their demands. "We are in a period when the truck market is resuming its demands and, with the stoppage, we are failing to produce our truck cabins to suit our customers." In the first quarter to Mercedes sold 6,646 trucks, high of 61.7% compared to the same period in 2018.