In the collective bargaining dispute at Europe’s largest car manufacturer Volkswagen Both sides continue to struggle for an agreement. Negotiating circles said there was still a lot to do. But so far there is no agreement. It is the second night of continuous negotiations in a row.
The news agency Bloomberg
claims to have learned from internal sources that an agreement is in sight. VW is prepared to forgo plant closures and to guarantee job security until 2030. In return, employees should forego bonus payments.
Strikes are threatening from January
However, if it is not possible to reach a new collective agreement for the approximately 130,000 VW employees, there is a risk of renewed strikes from January. The IG Metall calls for a result that creates security for employees, families and the region. The union rejects site closures, mass layoffs and wage cuts.
In the conflict, Volkswagen management is demanding, among other things, a 10 percent wage cut and threatening to close plants. Should a production facility in Germany closed, that would be a first in the history of the Wolfsburg car manufacturer.
VW is suffering from weak demand, especially for Electric cars. CFO Arno Antlitz (54) spoke of 500,000 fewer vehicles being sold by the group in Europe than before the pandemic. The planning round is currently underway to decide on plant occupancy for the coming years and which interacts with collective bargaining. VW is considering, among other things, Production of the Golf at the plant in Puebla, Mexico to relocate.