HANOVER/WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - IG Metall and the Volkswagen Works Council have dismissed speculation regarding potential plant closures at VW in Germany. 'Naturally, all sites will be maintained,' stated a joint release from IG Metall head Christiane Benner, VW General Works Council chairwoman Daniela Cavallo, and IG Metall district leader Thorsten Gröger.
Labor representatives pointed to the collective bargaining agreement reached at the end of 2024. Following protracted negotiations, the company and the union agreed on a restructuring program. The VW core brand plans to cut 35,000 jobs in Germany by 2030. In exchange, plant closures and compulsory redundancies were ruled out.
This compromise must not be called into question now. 'There will be no plant closures with us as the General Works Council and IG Metall,' the statement continued.
'No ideological blinkers'
The Works Council and the union simultaneously suggested exploring new business areas should existing business models 'foreseeably no longer be fully sustainable.' In such cases, 'new ones must be established.' However, these should not replace existing commitments from the collective agreement but rather supplement them.
The labor side also signaled a willingness to cooperate with external partners, stating there are 'no ideological blinkers.' The decisive factors remain quality work, future prospects, and job security.
Speculation has recently centered on the future of the VW plant in Osnabrück, which employs approximately 2,300 people. Production of the Porsche models built in Osnabrück is scheduled to phase out this year, and manufacturing of the VW T-Roc Cabriolet will also end in mid-2027. No follow-up orders have been secured to date. Consequently, scenarios in which defense contractors could take over the plant are frequently discussed./kge/DP/nas
