Volkswagen’s works council chief, Daniela Cavallo, has sharply criticized the company’s management board, stating in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that the board “has missed quite a bit.” She argued that other strategic directions should have been taken. Specifically, she claims the board needed to recognize sooner how the Chinese market was evolving and acknowledge that Europe would require hybrid vehicles for many years to come. Furthermore, Cavallo points out that a proper strategy for North America was lacking.
Cavallo also refuted the impression that the union had already agreed to further job cuts. She asserted that “the employees’ side has not agreed to a reduction of 50,000 jobs.” If the board intends to implement additional layoffs, she insists they must first provide detailed financial justifications, after which they can be negotiated.
Previously, a release following a recent Volkswagen supervisory board meeting noted that a survey within the 2030 future plan projected around 50,000 potential job cuts. Cavallo dismissed this figure, stating, “It is only a survey.” She added that no defined target number had been agreed upon. She stressed that the debate on these issues is just beginning, emphasizing that no commitment to staff reduction has been made, nor has there been any discussion about how any potential additional cuts would be implemented. In her view, the supervisory board level cannot replace negotiations at the operational or collective bargaining agreement level, and if she were in charge, she states that no single job would be cut at Volkswagen.
Thorsten Gröger, the IG-Metall negotiator, commented on the management board’s responsibilities, noting that the CEO is tasked with guiding employees toward the future. Gröger severely criticized Oliver Blume’s communication, calling it a “disaster.” He also targeted VW’s largest shareholders, the Porsche and Piëch families, warning that the “preaching of sacrifice cannot be a one-way street.” He urged the Porsches and Piëchs to approve lower dividends to free up capital for necessary investments.
Finally, Cavallo issued a strong warning regarding the potential rise of the AfD party. She labeled an AfD-led government as “fatal for Germany,” not just socially, but economically as well, predicting a catastrophe. She added that leaving the Eurozone and the EU would cost German companies significant revenue. Moreover, she highlighted the critical need for immigrants to staff crucial sectors such as healthcare and gastronomy, as well as the industry itself, sharing that her own parents immigrated from Italy. She concluded by expressing concern that many people with migration backgrounds are distressed by the AfD’s success.
