Nine VW Plants To Strike As Labor Row Escalates

Workers at nine Volkswagen car and component plants across Germany will strike, the IG Metall union announced, bringing assembly lines to a halt as labor and management clash over the future of the carmaker's German operations, Victoria Waldersee and Maria Martinez reported this for Reuters.

Last week, the union proposed measures to save 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), including forgoing bonuses for 2025 and 2026—an offer Europe's largest carmaker dismissed. I Photo: IG Metall Bezirk Mitte

Thousands are expected to gather at the carmaker's headquarters in Wolfsburg. Demonstrations are also planned at the Hanover plant, which employs around 14,000 people, as well as at other sites, including Emden, Salzgitter, and Brunswick.

The strikes, which could escalate into 24-hour or indefinite actions if a deal is not reached in the next round of wage negotiations, will disrupt Volkswagen's production at a time when the company is already grappling with declining deliveries and shrinking profits.

"How long and how intense this confrontation needs to be is Volkswagen's responsibility at the negotiating table," Groeger said.

A company spokesperson also stated that Volkswagen respects workers' right to strike but has taken steps to ensure a basic level of supplies to customers and minimize the impact of the strike.

Last week, the union proposed measures to save 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), including forgoing bonuses for 2025 and 2026—an offer Europe's largest carmaker dismissed.