Despite the recent mediation efforts, Volkswagen has reportedly yet to reach an agreement on the planned savings package. According to sources cited by the “Handelsblatt”, even the last attempt by Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hans Dieter Pötsch, to broker a compromise prior to Friday’s Supervisory Board meeting has not yielded significant progress.
Over Wednesday evening, Pötsch met with the various parties involved in the dispute. He first gathered with the executives of the VW Group, attempting to bring the management ranks into alignment. He later met with representatives from the State of Lower Saxony-which owns 20 percent of Volkswagen-as well as employee representatives. Volkswagen did not comment on the matter when contacted by the newspaper.
The situation could escalate further at the upcoming Supervisory Board session. Inside sources indicate that the trade union and the state government might decide to unify their previously separate proposals and submit them as a joint motion for voting. If both sides decide to cooperate, they would be in a position to secure a majority. One insider noted that there is substantial overlap between the proposals advanced by the union and the state, making a joint effort a viable option. Both labor representatives and the state refused to comment on their plans, citing the confidential nature of the meeting.
