German Mercedes staff wants job security until 2020

Daimler's German workforce, fearing more cars could be shifted to foreign plants just days after management decided to build a key model in its Alabama facility instead of in Sindelfingen, has demanded job guarantees until 2020.

German labor union IG Metall believes 3,000 jobs are at risk once the largest Mercedes-Benz plant loses production of the C-Class when the next generation of mid-size luxury cars roll off assembly lines in 2014.

"Our demands are on the table ... talks will resume this week," a spokeswoman for the German workforce said.

Mercedes-Benz Cars employs some 85,000 people in Germany, most of whom still have guaranteed jobs until the end of 2011.

Responding to a painful depreciation in the U.S. dollar, management decided to build volumes of the upcoming C-Class destined for the North American market in its Tuscaloosa, Alabama, plant.

The decision sparked hefty protests among Mercedes workers in Sindelfingen, who in turn, did not show up for work on Saturday to build E-Class cars. More production could be lost on Monday, when workers plan to down tools to participate in staff meetings.