In the first round of the 2024 collective bargaining discussions between Volkswagen AG and IG Metall, Volkswagen has firmly rejected the union’s demands, emphasizing the need for significant cost reductions to secure long-term competitiveness.
Arne Meiswinkel, Volkswagen’s Chief Human Resources Officer and chief negotiator, expressed the company’s pressing need to realign its cost structure and safeguard future operations. With rising competition and economic challenges, Volkswagen is seeking to restructure agreements related to job security, trainee hiring, and the use of temporary workers. IG Metall had demanded a seven-percent pay increase and a €170 monthly basic payment for trainees, which Volkswagen deemed unsustainable in the current economic climate.
The negotiations, which lasted three hours, mark a critical phase for Volkswagen’s 120,000 employees across multiple plants, including Wolfsburg, Hanover, and Salzgitter. The duty to refrain from industrial action ends on November 30, 2024, setting the stage for potential further confrontations if an agreement is not reached.
Volkswagen’s goal is to work with IG Metall on creating a future-proof structure that balances both employee benefits and the company’s long-term viability.
