Collective bargaining at carmaker Volkswagen has begun.
The IG Metall trade union is demanding, among other things, 8 percent more money for the approximately 125,000 employees in the area covered by the company collective agreement.
Negotiations took place on Tuesday in Braunschweig.
IG Metall district chief Thorsten Gröger explained in advance that the VW group has come through the various crises well so far.
The shareholders have already let VW participate in the good business situation with a record dividend.
It is now expected that the employer will “ensure that incomes are stabilized in the current situation” and thus keep private consumption alive.
After the first conversation, he was "really disappointed".
There were no suggested solutions.
"Volkswagen is obviously still looking for the right gear, because today they didn't move from the spot and practiced baseless excuses as to why our demands could not be presented.
The company is obviously miles away from reality and the multiple concerns of the employees," said Gröger.
In addition to the wage increase, IG Metall is also demanding an extension of the collective agreement on partial retirement, more days off for members of the union and the assumption of semester fees for employees in dual studies.
VW negotiator Arne Meiswinkel said: "In one of the most serious crises of the post-war period, we have to reach a collective agreement that ensures the company and the workforce a high level of stability for further transformation." employees and companies.
At the same time, it is important to continue driving the automotive change in an industry characterized by intense competition.
The next collective bargaining will take place on November 9th in Wolfsburg.
The VW company tariff applies to the core workforce of the six west German VW locations in Braunschweig, Emden, Hanover, Kassel, Salzgitter and Wolfsburg as well as at some subsidiaries.
The peace obligation ends on November 30, 2022.