IG Metall gave Volkswagen an ultimatum and threatened…

IG Metall gave Volkswagen an ultimatum and threatened strikes

24.10.2026 01:25 HotInfo

The dispute between German automaker Volkswagen and the IG Metall union is escalating. The union demands that management withdraw the decision to cancel company collective agreements by the end of October. If it fails to do so, strikes are threatened from January, which could lead to a production stoppage. hnonline.sk ↗

Volkswagen is pushing through an extensive austerity program in response to the crisis in the automotive industry. The plan includes job cuts, cost-saving measures, and the possibility of plant closures. The union and the works council disagree and are demanding the preservation of existing wage and working conditions. Tagesschau ↗

On Friday, October 23, the company's management met with representatives of IG Metall for talks on further proceedings. According to available information, formal negotiations have not yet begun, but the meeting represents another round of talks on the planned savings and the future of the plants. n-tv ↗

The union warned that if Volkswagen remains inflexible, it will organize extensive protest actions. Its goal is to force the company to restore the company collective agreements and abandon unilateral interference with working conditions. Die Zeit ↗

About two years ago, Volkswagen promised employees that it would not resort to layoffs for operational reasons or plant closures. The current crisis and pressure for savings have put this promise under significant strain. If the parties fail to reach an agreement by the end of October, the conflict could escalate into strikes starting at the beginning of next year. Spiegel.de ↗

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