Volkswagen Workers Strike, Agreement Elusive On Key Issues

Recently, Volkswagen's ongoing strike negotiations with workers may continue until 2025. It has been reported that both sides currently hope to reach an agreement before Christmas, but it is difficult to reach an agreement on key issues.

Labor representatives are strongly opposed to closing factories, but Volkswagen insists that this possibility cannot be ruled out. If the negotiations break down, with the support of the union, worker representatives at each factory can vote in January to go on a 24-hour or indefinite strike.

Previously, Volkswagen insisted that Germany needed to close factories and cut wages in order to cope with competition from Chinese automakers, but workers said both measures were red lines.

Earlier, according to Reuters, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume was suspected of having a verbal conflict during negotiations with labor. According to sources who attended the meeting, the executive's speech was repeatedly interrupted by boos from workers.

On December 2, workers at nine Volkswagen and parts factories in Germany began to strike to protest the company's previous plan to close factories and lay off large numbers of employees.

Volkswagen said it had taken measures to minimize the impact of the warning strike on customers, partners and factories, and would continue to negotiate with the union.

Volkswagen announced at the end of October that it planned to close at least three German factories and lay off tens of thousands of employees for cost-cutting reasons, and employees in factories that were not closed would also face pay cuts.

During this period, Volkswagen management had multiple rounds of communication with the union. It is reported that Volkswagen rejected the union's proposal to save costs and still asked employees to cut their salaries by 10%. According to the union's suggestion, Volkswagen can adopt a cost-saving approach to maintain operations.