No shift to the right - IG Metall wins election at VW Zwickau

The feared major shift to the right in the works council election at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau has failed to materialize. Although IG Metall received fewer votes than a year ago, it still won more than 81 percent, according to a statement from the union. The "Alliance of Free Works Councils", which is considered to be close to the AfD, achieved 11.5 percent and List 1 "The Other List" a good 7.3 percent. Around 8,200 employees were called to vote for their new employee representatives.

"With this backing, we as Team IG Metall are going into the upcoming disputes about the future of the site - and therefore the entire automotive region - stronger and more confident," explained the first authorized representative of IG Metall Zwickau, Thomas Knabel. "The shift to the right that was often assumed in advance has proven to be a sham in the media. This workforce knows very well who stands up for their interests and who does not - this is also shown by the clear result."

Rösler: Coming years decisive for automotive region

The top candidate on the IG Metall list, Mike Rösler, spoke of a time in which many employees are unsettled. "The next four years will be decisive for the future of our entire automotive region," said the former Deputy Chairman of the Works Council. "We will do everything we can to ensure that things continue here at the site beyond 2030, for secure jobs and a strong industrial region of Zwickau."

Due to overcapacity at its German sites, Volkswagen is cutting 35,000 jobs nationwide by 2030. This will also affect the sites in Saxony. While the Transparent Factory in Dresden has stopped producing cars altogether, the vehicle plant in Zwickau will have to discontinue production of several models for the foreseeable future. Instead of three shifts as before, only two shifts will be worked here.

Job cuts also at VW in Zwickau

As a result, 1,200 jobs have reportedly already been cut - due to age-related departures, termination agreements and because fixed-term contracts were not extended. Some fear that car production could cease altogether when the current site guarantee expires after 2030. The car factory is a pioneer in e-mobility within the VW Group. Only electric cars are built here.

In the last election just over a year ago, IG Metall at Volkswagen in Zwickau received even greater support than in the current election with almost 89 percent. However, there was also more competition this time with a total of three lists. Of the 35 seats on the new committee, 29 are now held by IG Metall, 4 by the Alliance of Independent Works Councils and 2 by "The Other List".