Automotive industry VW faces warning strikes after the end of the peace obligation
Europe's largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen, is facing warning strikes across the board after the end of the peace obligation. IG Metall marked the end of the peace obligation with demonstrative actions on Sunday night. Observers are expecting warning strikes on Monday.
01.12.2024, 09:26
SDA
"Production will be temporarily on hold at all plants in the near future," announced IG Metall chief negotiator Thorsten Gröger in Wolfsburg. The union demonstratively ended the peace obligation twice: first in Wolfsburg in the evening by ringing bells within sight of the company headquarters, and a little later again in Zwickau with red Bengal flares.
IG Metall reported around 300 participants in Wolfsburg. Hundreds also demonstrated their willingness to strike in Zwickau with punch and bratwurst in front of the factory gates.
"There is a lot of frustration among the workforce," said Works Council Chairwoman Daniela Cavallo, adding that the possibility of warning strikes now provides an outlet "to let off steam". She therefore expects a great deal of support. Gröger spoke of "warning strikes that the company cannot ignore".
In Zwickau, the head of the works council there, Uwe Kunstmann, said that the VW board must finally come to its senses. He assumed that IG Metall would call for warning strikes at all VW locations next week.
The conflict is about the pay of around 120,000 employees at the VW plants, where a separate in-house wage agreement applies. VW has so far rejected any increase and is instead demanding a ten percent pay cut. Plant closures and compulsory redundancies are also on the table.
