Collective bargaining conflict at PowerCo: IG Metall warns of escalation!

Collective bargaining conflict at PowerCo: IG Metall warns of escalation!

The collective bargaining negotiations between IG Metall and the VW subsidiary PowerCo in Salzgitter are approaching a critical point. After eight rounds of talks, the union's patience has been exhausted. The central topic of the negotiations remains job security, to which VW has so far turned a deaf ear. As News38 reports, IG Metall sees Volkswagen's blockade as a massive test of endurance and fears an escalation of the conflict.

The strategic importance of the Salzgitter site for battery production and Volkswagen's e-mobility strategy cannot be overestimated. Alina Roß, the IG Metall negotiator, sharply criticizes VW's current stance. The union has already made it clear that all key points developed to date are irrelevant as long as no binding commitments to secure employment are made. “We demand safety for all PowerCo employees,” said Roß.

Demands and perspectives

IG Metall's original fee demand was seven percent. But after the latest developments, union representatives are flexible when it comes to money, as long as safety for employees is guaranteed. Works council chairman Björn Harmening demands clear commitments from VW and emphasizes that the employees are the backbone of the company. “We have to create resilient structures: local production, responsibility and employment,” said Roß, while IG Metall sees the positions as fundamental for a future contract.

There is agreement that Volkswagen's blockade threatens collective bargaining and the trust of the workforce. PowerCo is therefore seen as a central building block for Germany's industrial future. The future of the workforce and the company are therefore closely linked.

The situation on the labor market is also important in the discussions. Securing employment is essential, not only for the motivated employees at PowerCo, but also for stability in the entire Salzgitter region. While the negotiations are still on the rocks, it is hoped that both sides will soon reach an agreement.

Ultimately, an agreement could be groundbreaking not only for PowerCo, but also for Volkswagen's entire e-mobility strategy. How current the situation is can also be seen in the previous negotiations, in which many jobs were already at stake. This not only puts the employees in trouble, but also the long-term vision of the automobile company.

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For the northern German region, developments at the VW subsidiary PowerCo remain exciting and we will follow the discussions closely. Decision-makers are facing a major challenge that will affect both the company and the workforce in the long term.