Volkswagen employees have announced a strike at all of the brand’s car factories in Germany, starting today, Monday.
The IG Metall union, representing around 120,000 Volkswagen workers, confirmed the widespread industrial action, which is expected to bring production across all German factories to a halt.
Dispute Over Wage Cuts
The strike stems from ongoing salary negotiations. Volkswagen has refused to meet demands for wage increases and has instead proposed a 10% wage cut, sparking significant unrest among employees.
Workers fear for their job security as a result of the company’s stance.
Adding to the tension, Volkswagen plans to shut down at least three factories in Germany and lay off a substantial number of employees. These actions are part of the automaker’s strategy to navigate the economic crisis currently affecting the car industry.
“Production will be temporarily suspended at all factories in the near future,” said Thorsten Gröger, chief negotiator for IG Metall, in an interview with the German newspaper Bild.
He emphasized the union's commitment to defending workers' rights.
“We don’t want this conflict, but we will continue as long as management prioritizes cutbacks and layoffs over future opportunities,” Gröger added.
He warned that the dispute could escalate, stating, “If necessary, this will be one of the toughest conflicts Volkswagen has ever faced.”
Impact on Volkswagen
The strike comes at a difficult time for Volkswagen, already under pressure from the ongoing economic crisis. While the full impact of the strike remains unclear, the production halt is expected to have serious consequences for the automaker’s operations and future plans.
The duration of the strike and its long-term effects on Volkswagen’s production remain uncertain.
