The Braunschweig labor court has rejected 23 of 26 lawsuits filed by former VW managers against the car manufacturer’s new austerity measures. According to the court, the proceedings were about a salary increase and a 1,000 euro bonus that VW had canceled for its senior employees. In three cases, the decision will not be announced until November 4th, a court spokesman said. The reason: There is still a separate comment period for the plaintiffs.
VW was satisfied: “We are pleased that the court followed our legal opinion and welcome the chamber’s decision,” said a company spokesman. In addition to the cases being heard today, there are around 75 more lawsuits, which are also to be heard at the Braunschweig Labor Court.
According to the court, the plaintiffs are almost all employees in early retirement who remain on VW’s payroll. Only one of the plaintiffs is still in active service with the car manufacturer; all others have already retired from working life as part of so-called time securities. With such “time securities” VW employees were able to convert salary components and thus retire earlier.
The group decided in the spring to also involve managers in the savings program. The expected acceptance of the tariff increase was canceled for the management group who were paid outside the collective bargaining agreement. This resulted in a salary increase of 3.3 percent and a 1,000 euro inflation compensation bonus. Those affected are relying on a commitment from the car manufacturer in 2023 to take over these components of the collective agreement for them. VW rejects the demands.