Christiane Benner, Chair of IG Metall and Deputy Chair of the VW Supervisory Board, is hailing Porsche, the Stuttgart-based VW subsidiary, as a blueprint for navigating job cuts and factory closures within the automotive group. Speaking to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Benner noted that VW employees are reacting in astonishment to what appears possible at Porsche, adding, “Perhaps the management in Wolfsburg can be inspired?”
At Porsche, management and the works council reached an agreement at the end of July regarding an additional reduction of 5,000 jobs. Crucially, this agreement excludes operational dismissals until the mid-2030s. Instead, job reductions are to be achieved through voluntary measures and by leaving vacant positions unfilled. While the Porsche arrangement involves staff reductions, it also guarantees employment security until 2035, a development Benner suggested would be welcomed by many VW employees.
In contrast, Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume is planning a comprehensive cost-cutting program. According to Handelsblatt, this plan places up to 50,000 additional jobs and four German VW plants in jeopardy. Benner described Blume’s reduction strategy as “an unprecedented attack on its own staff,” noting that facilities in already structurally weak regions, such as Emden and Zwickau, are being put up for grabs. “This is madness,” the union official stated.
Despite the challenges, Benner expressed optimism regarding the VW plant in Osnabrück, which is reportedly in the process of being acquired by the Israeli defense conglomerate Rafael. However, the major VW shareholder, Qatar, has voiced reservations about this takeover. Nevertheless, the IG Metall chief assured the public that the rescue of the factory is “well underway,” adding, “We will find a solution that is acceptable to all sides.”
