Rudolph Angler Volkswagen workers staged rolling two-hour strikes at nine German plants, including the Wolfsburg headquarters, to oppose planned pay cuts and factory closures. The company aims to address rising costs, slowing car demand, and competition from Chinese automakers.
Euronews’ Berlin correspondent Liv Stroud reported a “cacophony of whistles and shouts” at Wolfsburg as tens of thousands joined the strikes. Volkswagen’s management proposes a 10% pay cut, job reductions, and closing at least three German plants.
Daniela Cavallo, the chief employee representative, criticized management’s failure to develop affordable electric vehicles. “Employees should not bear the burden alone,” Cavallo declared at a Wolfsburg rally, where workers drummed, whistled, and clapped.
Rising Tensions in Labour Talks
The warning strikes follow the end of a mandatory peace period barring strikes. The IG Metall union is resisting Volkswagen’s demand for pay cuts affecting 120,000 workers. Thorsten Gröger, IG Metall’s Lower Saxony leader, warned that this could escalate into one of Volkswagen’s toughest labor conflicts.
Volkswagen argues it must reduce costs to match competitors and adapt to a smaller market. Thomas Schaefer, Volkswagen brand head, noted that European car sales have dropped to 14 million annually, down from 16 million, costing the company 500,000 vehicles annually.
Negotiations will resume on December 9. Cavallo said the talks could bring “rapprochement or escalation,” adding, “We are ready for both.” Meanwhile, IG Metall announced further strike plans would follow if necessary.
The strikes began at Zwickau and are continuing at plants in Braunschweig, Chemnitz, Dresden, Emden, Hanover, Kassel, and Salzgitter.