Workers 'disappointed' as Volkswagen remains vague on turnaround plan
The Peninsula
Hanover, Germany: Unions on Wednesday criticised Volkswagen for failing to make specific proposals in the first round of talks over the German auto gi...
Hanover, Germany: Unions on Wednesday criticised Volkswagen for failing to make specific proposals in the first round of talks over the German auto giant's drastic cost-cutting plan, as thousands of workers picketed the meeting.
The discussion with management was "disappointing, even sobering", Thorsten Groeger, lead negotiator for the IG Metall union, told reporters.
Volkswagen "did not concretise its proposal and did not sketch out a concept for the future" in the opening talks, Groeger said.
"Plant closures and mass layoffs remain on the table," Groeger said.
Europe's biggest carmaker shocked its 300,000 employees in Germany this month when it said it was considering closing factories in the country -- a potential first in the group's 87-year history.
