Volkswagen Workers Stage Nationwide Strikes Over Wage Cuts and Plant Closures

Tens of thousands of employees from nine VW plants in Germany protest proposed 10% wage reductions and factory shutdowns as negotiations stall.

Approximately 66,000 Volkswagen employees participated in two-hour warning strikes across nine German facilities, with 35,000 workers striking at the Wolfsburg headquarters alone.
The IG Metall union is opposing VW's plans for plant closures, mass layoffs, and a 10% wage cut, citing risks to job security and the future of production sites in Germany.
Volkswagen management rejected a union proposal to save €1.5 billion through alternative measures, insisting on cost-cutting measures due to declining profits and reduced demand for electric vehicles.
The strikes, the largest at VW since 2018, are expected to escalate if no agreement is reached during the next negotiation round on December 9.
Germany's auto industry, which contributes significantly to the national economy, faces broader challenges, with other automakers like Mercedes and suppliers like Bosch also announcing job cuts.