It has already been announced that things are now getting serious: the IG Metall union is calling for warning strikes at Europe’s largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen, on Monday. Work would have to be halted in all factories in Germany. The peace commitment, in which strikes are not allowed, expired on Sunday night.
“Production will be temporarily stopped at all factories in the near future,” IG Metall negotiator Thorsten Gröger (55) announced this weekend in Wolfsburg. So far, IG Metall has only announced temporary work stoppages at all locations from early December.
By symbolically ringing bells, IG Metall demonstratively marked the end of the peace obligation on Sunday evening during the first Advent and thus set the course for labor conflicts.
VW: Respect workers’ right to strike
“Volkswagen respects the right of employees to participate in a warning strike. “That is why the company has already taken targeted measures in advance to guarantee emergency supplies,” emphasizes a spokesperson for the VW company. And added: “We want to minimize the impact of the warning strike on our customers, our partners and our industrial facilities.”
The company continues to rely on constructive dialogue with employees to achieve a sustainable and mutually supported solution. Both sides will meet on December 9 for their next round of collective bargaining.
What the current conflict is about
The conflict concerns the pay of approximately 120,000 employees at Volkswagen AG’s factories, where a separate corporate rate applies. VW has so far refused any increase and is instead demanding a ten percent pay cut due to the company’s dire situation. Factory closures and layoffs for operational reasons are also on the table. According to the works council, at least three factories and tens of thousands of jobs are at risk.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
