Volkswagen workers hold 2-hour strikes to push back against proposed pay cuts and plant closures

FRANKFURT, Germany — Volkswagen workers launched rolling two-hour strikes Monday at nine plants across Germany to underscore their resistance to pay cuts and factory closures the corporation says are essential to cope with a slack European auto economy.

The work stoppages included the corporation’s base plant at Wolfsburg, where workers rallied against a expense-cutting drive by the automaker’s management in which they face the threat of the corporation’s first plant closures in its home country.

Volkswagen argues that it must lower costs in Germany to levels achieved by competitors and by Volkswagen plants in eastern Europe and South America. Chief employee representative Daniela Cavallo has said employees should not shoulder the burden of management failures to develop attractive products and arrive up with a cheaper, entry-level electric vehicle.

“We demand that all make their contribution – management and the shareholder side as well,” Cavallo said at the rally in Wolfsburg as employees drummed, whistled and clapped.

She said the next round of talks in a week’s period “is likely to set the course – rapprochement or escalation. We are ready for both.”

The so-called warning strikes, a ordinary tactic in German wage negotiations, are taking place as part of talks for a recent labor agreement after a mandatory tranquility period that bars strikes expired on Sunday. The IG Metall industrial union said any job actions beyond those occurring on Monday would be announced later.

The corporation is demanding a 10% pay cut for 120,000 German workers and has said it can’t avoid shedding factory capacity that is no longer needed. Employee representatives declare the corporation has proposed closing three of its German plants.

Thorsten Gröger, the regional chief of the IG Metall industrial union in Lower Saxony, where Volkswagen is headquartered, said that the corporation won’t be able to “overlook” the walkouts. “If essential, this will be one of the toughest conflicts Volkswagen has ever seen.”

The corporation hasn’t publicly detailed its plans but is facing a drop in demand in Europe, higher costs and increasing competition from Chinese automakers. Volkswagen built factories to supply a European car economy of 16 million in annual vehicle sales, but now faces demand for around 14 million, Volkswagen brand head Thomas Schaefer was quoted as saying in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. Since Volkswagen has a quarter of the economy, that represents a deficit of 500,000 cars a year.

For years, powerful profits in China helped cover higher costs but the changing surroundings now means that “it’s high period to address this,” Schaefer said.

The walkouts began at a plant in Zwickau in eastern Germany and were to continue at plants in Braunschweig, Chemnitz, Dresden, Emden, Hanover, Kassel, and Salzgitter.

The next negotiations are slated for Dec. 9.