Germany: car industry workers take to the streets to protect their jobs

Today, automotive sector workers demonstrated across Germany, urging the top management of major car manufacturers – including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz – to safeguard jobs and offer prospects for the future.

“Just as here at Volkswagen, workers in the automotive industry and the components supply chain are gathering across the country today to show employers and politicians that they’ve had enough,” said Christiane Benner, leader of the powerful trade union IG Metall, during a rally at Volkswagen’s headquarters in Wolfsburg. “At the moment,” she added, “the situation is heating up pretty much everywhere.”

The trade union leader stated that workers expect managers to take responsibility for Germany as an automotive nation, as well as for their employees and jobs. Benner also urged politicians to ensure reliable conditions for investment, affordable energy and support to boost production within the EU.

According to the works council of Volkswagen and the IG Metall trade union, media representatives were denied access to the protest area, in accordance with a decision taken by management last week. The trade union, which represents a large proportion of workers in the German automotive industry, has called for protests in over 200 locations on Monday, with more than 100,000 people expected to take part.

German car manufacturers have long been under pressure from growing Chinese competition and are also facing high energy costs, US tariffs and a fall in domestic demand. Volkswagen plans to cut 100,000 jobs over the coming years, whilst the future of four German plants remains uncertain. Other brands, such as Mercedes and BMW, are also planning far-reaching cuts.