Protest at VW: Employees Walk Out of a Company Meeting

The termination of several collective bargaining agreements by automaker Volkswagen is fueling discontent among employees. At a works meeting in Zwickau, some of the workforce boycotted management’s report and left the hall in protest, according to the local works council. 

“People rightly expect reliability and, above all, a secure outlook for their future,” explained Mike Rösler, deputy chairman of the works council at the Zwickau vehicle plant. “Our colleagues have been working incredibly hard for months, showing maximum flexibility, and doing everything they can to achieve our goals at the plant.” This makes the incomprehension over the company’s termination of the collective bargaining agreements all the greater. The protest at the works meeting demonstrated just how great the frustration and disappointment among the employees have become. 

According to reports, approximately 3,000 employees attended the meeting that morning. According to the works council, the meeting was not officially adjourned shortly after 1:00 p.m., but merely interrupted. This allows the option to resume it promptly if necessary, they said. 

VW Executive Board Pushes for Cost Cuts

In light of overcapacity and growing competition from China, the VW Executive Board plans to cut an additional 50,000 jobs worldwide in the coming years, on top of existing layoff plans. Furthermore, the future of several of the group’s German auto plants beyond 2030 is unclear—including the plant in Zwickau.

In its push for deeper cost-cutting, Volkswagen recently terminated a large portion of its collective bargaining agreements—including the key framework collective bargaining agreement. The company stated that, in light of current cost pressures, various provisions in these agreements need to be adjusted.