Volkswagen’s main union confirms it has submitted a 6% pay increase request to the German manufacturer for discussion in January.
IG Metall – the labour body that represents more than 90% of Volkswagen’s workforce, has requested the ambitious pay rise following the award of a 4.2% hike last year.
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“Volkswagen is [in] a very good situation and the first step is in January we speak with them about 6% more money for the 95,000 VW AG and around 5,000 financial services [workers],” an IG Metall spokesman in Hannover told just-auto.
The union’s demand comes following the news this week that Volkswagen will add 5,000 more workers in Europe and 50,000 globally, taking worldwide staff numbers to around 450,000.
IG Metall maintains Volkswagen has weathered the crisis well, although it is keeping its cards close to its chest should the manufacturer decline to pay the 6%.
Contrary to some reports, the union said it retained the right to strike if it wished, although there is no prospect of industrial action at this stage.
“There is no agreement not to strike,” said the spokesman. “In the end it is compromise.”
A Volkswagen spokesman in Wolfsburg confirmed to just-auto the union had submitted the 6% pay rise request but said he was unable to comment further.
IG Metall agreed to productivity improvements following last year’s fall-off in demand, with VW and other German carmakers shortening this year’s Christmas break to keep up production during the holiday period.
