VW crisis deepens: Works council summons Blume to four works meetings after the summer break

At the same time, Blume confirmed that for the Emden, Hanover, Zwickau and Neckarsulm plants, no competitive allocation can yet be confirmed for the 2030s. Blume cited personnel costs that are 20 percent higher than at comparable automakers as the reason. In his words, excess capacity of 500,000 vehicles must be reduced in the European plants.

Reaction of the works council

The works council is responding to these announcements with a clear signal. As the works council announced, it is inviting "wie angekündigt zu zusätzlichen Betriebsversammlungen nach der Sommerpause". In Wolfsburg, the meetings begin at the end of August, followed the next day by Emden and Zwickau, with a date in Osnabrück on 31 August rounding things off. At the Osnabrück site, the assembly lines could already come to a standstill from summer 2027, because current production is set to phase out at the beginning of the 2030s.

In a special edition of the works council newspaper "Mitbestimmen", the works council sharply criticized the board's communication. "Solche oberflächlichen Infos reichen natürlich nicht", it says there. Blume must face the employees' questions at the meetings. The mood among staff is considered heated, ever since tens of thousands of employees protested against the plans on 9 [Day].

IG Metall's position

IG Metall is meanwhile sharpening its tone. After the first wave of protests, IG Metall chief Christiane Benner issued a battle cry: "Im ganzen Land, an allen Standorten haben wir eine klare Botschaft an den Vorstand gesendet: So nicht!" Should the group leadership stick to its plans, the union wants to increase the pressure further. In a leaflet, it threatened a "heißen Herbst" and announced further protest actions.

The union sharply criticized the board's communication to date. The meaningfulness of the statements goes "gen Null", the IG Metall said. The union described the board's communication as a "Desaster". Blume's reference to there being more intelligent solutions than plant closures also did not defuse the conflict – on the contrary: the workforce is demanding binding commitments rather than vague announcements.

Economic pressure and outlook

The group's economic situation is further intensifying the dispute. Volkswagen's share price has nearly halved since Blume took office in September 2022. The combination of sales problems on the European auto market, competitive pressure from Asian manufacturers and high location costs is putting the company under massive adjustment pressure – with direct consequences for employees at the plants.

With the upcoming works meetings at the end of August and the protests announced by IG Metall, the VW conflict is heading into a decisive phase. Employees are demanding clarity about the future of the plants and their jobs. The outcome of negotiations between the board, works council and union is considered open – the fronts are entrenched.