Volkswagen: IG Metall sets conditions for further talks with VW

In the dispute over plant closures, IG Metall has called on VW to have open discussions about the future of all locations. This is a prerequisite for further negotiations, said Lower Saxony’s IG Metall district manager Thorsten Gröger at the start of the second round of collective bargaining in Wolfsburg. Otherwise, Gröger threatened, IG Metall “will have to plan further escalation.” Warning strikes are possible from December 1st.

“Today we expect that the company will at least declare its willingness to enter into a negotiation process with us that aims to develop alternatives to plant closures and redundancies for operational reasons,” explained Gröger. That is “the ticket that Volkswagen has to solve today.” Only then can real negotiations begin.

VW defends planned savings

VW negotiator Arne Meiswinkel, HR director for the core brand, announced that he would present concrete demands in this second round of talks. “We will present our ideas to IG Metall today in the second round of negotiations,” he said before the start of the talks in the Volkswagen Arena. IG Metall had previously called on VW to put concrete plans and funding on the table after the unsuccessful first round in September.

At the same time, Meiswinkel reiterated the need for savings. “The situation is getting worse. We are concerned about developments in the automotive industry in Europe and especially in Germany,” he said. “As a result, we have to increase our efficiency and reduce our costs.” Because, says Meiswinkel: “Only those who operate successfully can offer secure jobs.”

Works council boss Daniela Cavallo reported on Monday about VW’s plans to close at least three plants in Germany, cut tens of thousands of jobs and reduce collective wages across the board by ten percent. The group itself has not yet confirmed the information. The VW company tariff applies to around 120,000 employees at the six large West German VW locations.