London CNN —Volkswagen plans to close “at least” three factories in Germany, lay off tens of thousands of staff and downsize remaining plants in the country, the company’s employee group said Monday.
The plans are already facing pushback from labor unions in the country, where Volkswagen employs 295,000 people, setting the stage for possible strikes in the coming weeks.
Volkswagen has been locked in negotiations with unions for weeks over its plans to cut costs and restructure business operations.
A Volkswagen employee holds a placard reading "Hands off the collective agreement" during a VW works council event in Zwickau, eastern Germany on October 28, 2024.
It has previously said that it would seek to terminate an employment protection agreement with labor unions, which has been in place since 1994, to “future proof” the business.
Persons:
” Thorsten Groeger, Metall, IG Metall, Volkswagen’s, Daniela Cavallo, ” Cavallo, Jens Schlueter, Gunnar Kilian, ” Thomas Schaefer, ”, Volkswagen
Organizations:
London CNN, Volkswagen, VW, IG, CNN, ”, Getty, Labor
Locations:
Germany, Zwickau, AFP, China, Europe