According to IG Metall, 125,000 employees at VW should receive significantly more money. This will be negotiated in the fall.
According to IG Metall, the approximately 125,000 salaried employees of the West German VW works, the VW finance division and two other small subsidiaries should also receive 8 percent more money.
The demand announced in Hanover on Wednesday is at the same level as the pay target that the union had already formulated for the general wage agreement in the metal and electrical industry. Both rounds are planned for the fall. The target period is twelve months. Apprentices should also earn more accordingly.
Extension of partial retirement offers
IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann made it clear that next Monday (July 11) the union executive will also decide to demand 8.0 percent more money. Initially, the committee had put a range of 7 to 8 percent up for discussion for the area. The conclusion must also cover the coming year, at the end of which consumer prices will be well over 10 percent compared to the current situation, said the IG Metall boss. Wage policy alone cannot compensate for this. But: “The 8.0 percent of the wages, as demanded by IG Metall, are an important contribution to relieving the burden on employee budgets.”
At Volkswagen, the collective bargaining commission also wants to extend the partial retirement offers. And if they wish, the workforce must be able to use the option of converting part of the wage increases into free time more often – this should apply to all union members in the future. For dual students, IG Metall also requires Volkswagen to pay the semester fees.
Compensation for loss of purchasing power
“The colleagues at Volkswagen and the VW subsidiaries are also confronted with a significant loss of purchasing power,” said district manager Thorsten Gröger, explaining the decision. At the same time, the group makes high profits, top managers and shareholders earn lavishly. The demands will be defended aggressively in the talks that will start in November at the latest – “if necessary, with large mobilization on the street and in front of the factory gates”.
VW works council chief Daniela Cavallo emphasized the point of converting pay into days off: “The employer side should readjust here.” So far, for example, employees who have to care for relatives at home have been able to make use of the regulation.
The company said it had taken note of IG Metall’s position. Before the start of the collective bargaining round in autumn, however, the union’s demands will not be commented on in detail.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
