VW’s Slovak plant workers have voted to take strike action over pay, according to reports.
Reuters reports that the local labour union at the plant expects majority participation and a halt to production at the Bratislava plant. Strike action could start next Tuesday (20 June).
Local media in Slovakia says that the decision to strike follows eleven rounds of failed negotiations.
According to Reuters, the labour union said in a statement the strike would be unlimited. The union is reportedly after a 16% wage hike, an increase that VW has described as unacceptable. VW has offered a 4.3% raise and other inducements such as a one-off bonus of EUR350.
VW’s Bratislava plant is the exclusive source for the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo, SEAT Mii. It also produces bodies for Porsche Cayenne. In addition, it makes underbodies and gearboxes for other VW Group brands, suggesting that a strike could potentially disrupt VW Group’s European production network more widely.
