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Volkswagen workers strike at factories across Germany
3 hours ago3 hours ago
The labor union has promised “the toughest wage dispute Volkswagen has ever seen.” VW has planned to close three plants amidst plunging profits.
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Striking Volkswagen workers
‘Ready to strike!’ reads the banner in front of the Zwickau plantImage: Jens Schlueter/AFP via Getty Images
Thousands of Volkswagen workers in Germany went on strike on Monday after the company announced plans to close three plants and slash pensions.
“Warning strikes will begin Monday in all plants,” said Thorsten Gröger, who is leading the union negotiations with German auto giant.
“If necessary, this will be the toughest wage dispute Volkswagen has ever seen.”
Tens of thousands of employees with the IG Metall union stopped work at 9:30 a.m. The strike is set to last two hours, a process which will be repeated by the late shift. Gröger and workers’ council leader Daniela Cavallo are expected to address the crowd outside the company’s flagship plant in Wolfsburg.
Striking Volkswagen workers in HannoverStriking Volkswagen workers in Hannover
Tens of thousands of workers took part in the strike in cities like HannoverImage: Moritz Frankenberg/dpa/picture alliance
The move is a response to €18 billion ($19 billion) in budget cuts at the struggling carmaker, which includes major changes to its generous pension plan and an unprecedented three plant closures within Germany.
Gröger charged that “Volkswagen has set fire to our collective bargaining agreements” and that the company board is now “throwing open petrol drums into it.”
“What follows now is the conflict that Volkswagen brought about — we did not want it, but we will conduct it as committedly as necessary!”
German automaker Volkswagen faces unprecedented crisis
01:47
Sluggish economy
The issues at Volkswagen highlight the struggles facing the eurozone’s economic powerhouse.
Germany’s export-heavy economy has been suffering in recent years due to declining industrial orders.
VW, for example, has seen its once-lucrative Chinese market rapidly shrinking as domestically produced electric vehicles become more popular there. Moreover, looming EU tariffs on Chinese EVs have prompted fears of retaliatory measures.
In October, VW reported a 64% plummet in third-quarter profits. Other German automakers, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, have also reported major losses.
es/zc (AFP, dpa)
