Hilburger on carmakers Contracts and job-cut claims

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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.

Oliver Hilburger tells AUF1 that Mercedes has announced a desire for a 40-hour week without additional pay. He argues that this would require terminating an existing collective agreement, while qualifying the demand as a bargaining tactic and saying a widespread wave of cancellations has not occurred. The occurrence is the attributed company proposal, not an agreement adopted or hours already changed; the original announcement date is unresolved.