Auto industry: Volkswagen before warning strikes – end of the peace obligation

At Europe’s largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen, the signs point to warning strikes. With a symbolic ringing of a bell, IG Metall demonstratively signaled the end of the peace obligation in Wolfsburg and thus set the course for labor disputes. According to media reports, the first warning strikes at VW locations could occur as early as this Monday.

“The frustration among the workforce is great,” works council boss Daniela Cavallo is quoted as saying. With the possibility of warning strikes, there is now an outlet “to let off steam.” Cavallo said that she is expecting a lot of popularity when the first actions take place. IG Metall spoke of around 300 participants in the symbolic action in the evening.

The conflict is about the pay of around 120,000 employees in the Volkswagen AG plants, where a separate in-house tariff applies. VW has so far refused any increase and is instead demanding a ten percent wage cut. Plant closures and layoffs for operational reasons are also on the table. The job security was terminated.

The peace obligation expires at midnight, meaning work stoppages are possible from December 1st. IG Metall has already announced that it will call for warning strikes from the beginning of December. The union has not yet given any specific dates.

With these actions, she wants to increase the pressure once again in the collective bargaining dispute over wage cuts, job cuts and possible factory closures. IG Metall negotiator Thorsten Gröger spoke of “warning strikes that the company cannot overlook.”

It was only on Friday that Volkswagen rejected the proposals from IG Metall and the works council to reduce costs. In doing so, the board is adding fuel to the fire, said Cavallo.

IG Metall and the works council had offered not to pay out a possible wage increase for the time being and instead put it into a future fund. In return, VW should refrain from plant closures and redundancies for operational reasons. Volkswagen countered that the proposal would not bring any lasting relief.

Representatives of employees and the company want to continue collective bargaining on December 9th.