VW in the crisis: Employees defend themselves against massive cuts!

VW in the crisis: Employees defend themselves against massive cuts!

A storm brews itself through Volkswagen! The workforce is facing a decisive fight: massive savings measures and impending factory closures are in the room. The VW board has made it clear that a “contribution of the employees” is required to secure the future. Arne Meiswinkel, the negotiator, emphasizes the need for substantial cost reductions in order to maintain competitiveness. Last week, works councils gathered at all ten locations almost 60,000 employees who loudly protested the management plans: "We are Volkswagen - you are not!". The IG Metall sounds the alarm and announces resistance!

The situation is tense because the Wolfsburg -based group has maneuvered itself in a dead end. The paragraph is declining greatly, which is due to the wrong orientation towards large, expensive cars and combustion engines. While the company has invested in China, the demand for VW burners breaks down dramatically there. Claudia Kemfert from the German Institute for Economic Research accuses the group of having "overslept transformation towards electromobility". Despite a net profit of over 18 billion euros for 2023 and 147.8 billion euros in profit reserves, profit fell by almost 64 percent to 1.58 billion euros in the third quarter.

conflicts and negotiations

the negotiations promise to become heated! IG Metall demands seven percent more wages and 170 euros more for trainees, while the board requires a fee of ten percent and the reduction of special payments. The closure of at least three works and operational terminations are also on the agenda. But in the second round of negotiations there was a weak glimmer of hope: a way could possibly be found to avoid factories. Thorsten Gröger from IG Metall emphasizes that this was the minimum condition to stay at the negotiating table.

A special focus is now on the government of Lower Saxony, which holds 20 percent of the shares in VW. Prime Minister Stephan Weil demands clarity for the employees by Christmas. Ines Schwerdtner from the Left Party urges the country's intervention to ensure that the 4.5 billion euros of dividends that were paid to the VW owners last year flow back to the group. Operating terminations could be possible from mid -2025, and peace is possible at the end of November. Warning strikes could start in December!