A significant strike at Volkswagen has erupted as employees protest against drastic cost-cutting measures, with thousands participating in demonstrations across various locations. IG Metall negotiator Thorsten Gröger warned of potential escalation if management remains inflexible. Workers demand fair compensation to protect jobs, especially amid concerns over plant closures. Upcoming negotiations are seen as crucial, as VW’s leadership dismisses wage increase proposals despite acknowledging the right to strike. The state’s Prime Minister urges a compromise to avoid further conflict.
Widespread Strike at Volkswagen: Employees Demand Change
This morning marked the beginning of a significant strike at Volkswagen (VW), as employees rally against sweeping cost-cutting measures. IG Metall negotiator Thorsten Gröger has issued a stark warning about potential escalation if VW’s leadership does not reconsider their approach. So far, the company’s management has remained steadfast in their position.
Mass Demonstrations and Employee Discontent
Thousands of VW workers took to the streets, marching loudly through the main plant and congregating for a rally outside the executive offices. Chants of ‘Ready to strike! Nationwide!’ filled the air, with employees in Zwickau expressing their frustration at factory gates, proclaiming, ‘We’ve had enough.’
In Braunschweig, over a thousand workers joined the demonstration, while in Hanover, calls for the board to resign echoed throughout the streets. In Kassel-Baunatal, employees from the components plant made their voices heard with whistles, drums, and honking horns.
The strike involves thousands of workers at VW’s primary facility in Wolfsburg, as they protest against potential plant closures and layoffs. The focus is on the compensation for approximately 120,000 employees at VW plants, where a distinct company agreement is in place. Furthermore, over 10,000 employees at VW Sachsen are included in this discussion, having a company agreement established in 2021.
According to Hilke Janssen from NDR, the gap between the positions of the union and the company is significant. As IG Metall ramps up pressure with warning strikes, Gröger emphasized that this is merely a preliminary step. ‘If Volkswagen continues to push for maximum demands, a serious confrontation is imminent,’ he stated. ‘Disregarding the workforce is dangerous, and we know how to escalate the situation.’
In Emden, IG Metall Küste district manager Daniel Friedrich urged the company’s leadership to abandon their drastic cost-cutting plans, warning that if changes aren’t made, the consequences could be severe. Schulze, the local IG Metall district manager in Zwickau, also signaled a possibility of more work stoppages if the board remains unyielding.
Future Negotiations and Company Response
The next negotiation round, set for next week, is expected to be pivotal, with works council chairwoman Daniela Cavallo suggesting that either a compromise will be reached or tensions will escalate further. VW has so far dismissed any wage increase proposals, citing the company’s challenging situation.
The current warning strikes are designed to last two hours, with plans to repeat them in each shift until the conclusion of the night shift on Tuesday morning. Although production briefly halted during the strikes, a VW spokesperson indicated that the impact was manageable, allowing for a quick ramp-up afterward.
While VW claims to respect the right to strike and aims for a constructive resolution, the company has firmly rejected an IG Metall counter-proposal aimed at achieving savings without job cuts or plant closures. The leadership’s dismissal of the employees’ future concept for stabilizing the company has added to the tension.
Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil has called for both sides to avoid further escalation of the ongoing conflict. He emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement, stating, ‘Everyone will need to compromise, but a resolution is both possible and essential.’ The state of Lower Saxony holds a significant stake in VW, possessing 20 percent of the voting rights.
Despite facing a nearly 64 percent drop in profits during the third quarter, VW reported a surplus of 1.58 billion euros after taxes from January to September this year. The company attributes its cost-cutting measures to high operational costs and decreasing demand for new vehicles, with brand chief Thomas Schäfer suggesting that plant closures may be unavoidable.