Warning strikes at Volkswagen plants across Germany today

(Patria) - Germany's largest union, IG Metall, yesterday called for a work stoppage by employees at all Volkswagen plants in Germany.

- On Monday, we will begin warning strikes at all plants. How long these strikes will last depends on how the Volkswagen management behaves at the negotiating table - said IG Metall representative Thorsten Groeger in negotiations with Volkswagen.

Groeger said that this will be the fiercest negotiation Volkswagen has ever experienced, if necessary.

On Sunday night, the so-called truce period expired, during which IG Metall refrained from calling for a strike.

IG Metall wants a wage increase, but the increase would not be paid to workers but paid into a special fund from which wage reductions would be financed for announced reductions in working hours.

IG Metall also seeks guarantees that there will be no layoffs.

Volkswagen management announced a few weeks ago that due to reduced demand, especially for electric cars, they are forced to introduce shorter working hours, as well as close entire plants in Germany.

In addition to Volkswagen, other German car manufacturers are in crisis due to weak demand for electric cars, into the production of which companies have invested significant funds.

Ford Germany announced last week the layoff of about 3,000 employees from its central European plant in Cologne.