VW labour representatives vote for strikes from early December

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Labour representatives on Friday voted for limited strikes at Volkswagen's German operations from early December, their union said, after talks over wages and plant closures failed to achieve a breakthrough.

Friday's vote marks a further escalation between Europe's top carmaker and its workers over mass layoffs, pay cuts and possible plant closures, drastic measures the company cannot rule out in the face of Chinese competition and cooling demand.

The bargaining committee at VW AG - a German subsidiary of Europe's biggest automaker - voted unanimously for the labour action, the IG Metall union said, adding this would lead to a dispute that will "put the company under massive pressure".

The announcement did not specify when strikes would start, only saying that an agreement that prevents walkouts would expire Nov. 30, making strikes possible from the following day.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagen-labour-representatives-vote-limited-strikes-early-december-2024-11-22/