The German metalworkers union, IG Metall, has given the green light to talks on a new wage contract at Volkswagen, according to dpa-AFX news.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Talks will commence on 18th September.
Volkswagen is seeking to return to a 35 hour week, from the current 28.8 hour week, with not additional pay. Unions are seeking job guarantees in return, as well as a performance-based element to future pay.
Talks are expected to be tough. Unions definitely want something in return for the 6.2 extra hours its members would be expected to work. On the other hand Volkswagen is unwilling to invest in any of its six German plants unless labour costs can be reduced.
In particular unions want guarantees that the next generation Golf due in 2008 will be built at Wolfsburg, and the plant needs another model in addition to this to utilize capacity and reach any level of competitiveness. There are also calls for a ‘workforce-oriented’ solution to the lack of competitiveness at a foundry at Hannover.
Link to: https://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=88969
