Volkswagen (VWAGY, Financial) is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with labor leaders concerning wages and employment issues. The European automotive giant is aiming to cut costs and avoid large-scale strikes. Since September, Volkswagen has been negotiating with labor representatives on necessary measures to compete with cost-effective Chinese rivals, address weak European demand, and tackle slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption.
In the past month, around 100,000 workers have staged two strikes, marking the largest in Volkswagen's 87-year history, protesting wage cuts, capacity reductions, and potential factory closures in Germany. The fifth round of negotiations began on Monday and continued late into the week, with both parties aiming to finalize an agreement before Christmas. Sources close to the negotiations indicate progress is being made.
Volkswagen faces the challenge of saving approximately €4 billion ($4.2 billion) to counter anticipated structural weakness in European demand. The company’s unique structure requires a two-thirds majority from its supervisory board for decisions on factory operations, giving German union representatives significant influence.
