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Volkswagen, unions to begin more talks on Germany cuts

Volkswagen and Germany's. IG Metall union will start their second round of settlements on. planned cuts to the carmaker's German operations on Oct. 30,. with unions firmly insisting the business should keep all German sites. open.

Tensions at the carmaking giant are running high as the. spectre of factory closures, which would be a very first for the. business in Germany, sets it on a clash with worker. representatives who comprise half of its supervisory board and. can sway decisions on company strategy.

Already, the carmaker has ditched a decades-old agreement. which guaranteed tasks at 6 German plants until 2029 and stated. it must deepen a continuous cost-cutting drive in the face of. waning need, under-usage of factory capacity and stiff. competitors from new EV-only rivals.

Enough time has now passed because the first negotiations for. the management board to do its homework, IG Metall's negotiator. Thorsten Groeger stated in a declaration on Tuesday.

We expect the business to lastly provide a master plan for. the next years that will make sure work and capacity. utilization.

In the first round of negotiations in late September, unions. called for a reinstatement of job assurances extending beyond. 2030, utilisation of all German sites and a 7% raise in line. with IG Metall's wage demands for the whole industry, on which. separate negotiations are ongoing.

After Volkswagen turned down the needs, the talks ended. without arrangement and unions threatened to go on strike if no. solution was discovered before Dec. 1.

Just by achieving sustainable expense savings can we invest in. brand-new technologies and secure jobs in the long term, said VW's. lead mediator Arne Meiswinkel after the first round of talks.

(source: Reuters)