VW to resume protracted cost-cutting talks with unionists next week
“We are still a long way from a viable solution,” says Arne Meiswinkel, management’s lead negotiator
VOLKSWAGEN and unionists will continue negotiations next week as both sides remain at loggerheads over how to make Europe’s biggest automaker more competitive.
The parties will meet again for a fifth round of talks over restructuring at the VW brand starting on Dec 16, Arne Meiswinkel, management’s lead negotiator, said late on Monday (Dec 10).
“We are still a long way from a viable solution,” Meiswinkel said in a statement. “Nevertheless: We had constructive discussions today.”
VW’s management and labour leaders have been disagreeing over how to cope with a drop in demand for electric vehicles, higher operation costs and increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers. While management has argued VW needs to shutter three German factories and lay off thousands of workers, union representatives have pushed to keep plants open.
Ahead of the talks on Monday, tens of thousands of workers had temporarily laid down their tools at VW plants across the country. Union leaders this week threatened to escalate walkouts if talks with management fail to yield a breakthrough before the Christmas period. BLOOMBERG
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