Almost 100,000 workers participated in strikes at Volkswagen’s German plants on Monday, in response to the company’s plans to reduce wages and close certain sites, Reuters reports.
The IG Metall union, which represents the workers, reported that 98,650 employees at nine different Volkswagen plants took part in the walkouts, which included two-hour strikes during morning shifts and early departures during evening shifts.
Volkswagen’s management has proposed closures of some of its German plants for the first time in the company’s 87-year history as part of efforts to reduce costs and increase profits. The company, facing weak demand, high production costs, and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers, is also grappling with a slower-than-expected transition to electric vehicles.
Thorsten Groeger, the union’s chief negotiator, described the strikes as the first in a “winter of protest” and warned Volkswagen to reconsider its plans.
“Volkswagen should come to its senses and finally shelve its nightmare plans… Otherwise, our colleagues will find the right answer,” Groeger said.
The union had recently proposed cost-saving measures to the company, including the suspension of bonuses for 2025 and 2026, which it claimed would save around 1.5 billion euros ($1.58 billion). However, Volkswagen management rejected these suggestions, calling them unrealistic and asserting that they would only delay necessary changes.
