Hilburger on carmakers Contracts and job-cut claims

Sep 30

In the complete interview, Pollak asks Zentrum union chairman Oliver Hilburger whether VW's early collective-agreement terminations signal wider risks. Hilburger says Mercedes wants a 40-hour week without extra pay, which he believes requires terminating an existing agreement, but qualifies it as bargaining tactics rather than a widespread wave. Asked about consequences, he says VW's formal terminations create negotiating room and do not immediately reduce wages or increase hours, while still calling them threatening. Asked about contractual terms and early termination, he explains permitted termination rules and revisits VW's December 2024 future agreement. He claims it provided 50,000 job cuts, wage deferrals/restructuring, discontinued bonuses and Golf production shifting to Mexico. He says a review-meeting clause was invoked by IG Metall, rather than VW's board, leading to a September 30 meeting and then terminations. He additionally claims another 50,000 cuts, half in German plants, and further savings are sought. These numbers and causal explanations are Hilburger's assertions, not independently demonstrated findings or confirmation that an employment guarantee was canceled.

Tagesthemen reports Volkswagen terminating collective agreements at year's end, including the framework agreement for more than 100,000 employees, amid savings demands. Arne Meiswinkel says this opens negotiating room and explicitly exempts the future agreement: the employment guarantee through 2030 remains. IG Metall says ten of thirteen agreements are terminated, putting vacation rules, notice periods and the 35-hour week into negotiations. Daniela Cavallo criticizes pressure to question hard-won gains and expects employee anger. Talks are expected in winter; the no-strike period ends January 1, after which indefinite strikes would be possible. Strikes have not begun and protections have not all already disappeared. Tagesschau's September 30 account also reports the ten-of-thirteen terminations and intact 2030 employment guarantee. Its introduction quotes IG Metall negotiator Gröger calling the step a nasty foul and an attempt to reach into employees' pockets, with Cavallo expecting confrontations around the turn of the year. The fuller package keeps the management explanation, winter bargaining and prospective end of the no-strike period. In AUF1's October 7 interview, Zentrum chairman Oliver Hilburger says termination creates negotiating room without immediate wage/hour changes. He attributes a September 30 review meeting to IG Metall invoking the December 2024 pact's clause and claims further 50,000 job cuts, half in Germany, are sought. These are his mechanism and numbers; they do not erase the earlier direct management assurance that the 2030 employment guarantee remains.