Volkswagen and BMW workers are on strike in Germany. Workers took to the streets with torches

In Germany, workers in the metallurgical and electrical industries are on strike. They were also joined by workers from automakers Volkswagen (VW) and BMW. Bild reported this on Tuesday, October 29.

The union IG Metall, which represents workers in the metallurgical and electrical industries, called for protests. The day before, Volkswagen announced plans to close several factories and reduce the number of workers at the enterprises.

“The trade union IG Metall started the first wave of protests in the German metallurgical and electrical industry on Tuesday evening. Employees of car makers VW and BMW will also take part in the events. During the day, work will be stopped throughout the country,” the newspaper reported, citing the trade union.

According to IG Metall, around 200 workers of battery manufacturer Clarios are on strike in the German city of Hannover, located in Lower Saxony. They came out to the rally with torches and union flags. In Osnabrück, also located in Lower Saxony, 250 workers at the Volkswagen plant, which is threatened with closure, took part in rallies.

In Regensburg, people with placards gathered in front of the BMW plant. A strike is expected at the Audi plant in Ingolstadt throughout the day. In the city of Hildesheim, around 400 employees have stopped working, including at Jensen GmbH, KSM Castings Group, Robert Bosch, Waggonbau Graaff and ZF CV Systems Hannover.

It is known that the IG Metall union wants a 7% increase in the wages of enterprise workers and an increase of €170 for trainees. This requirement is explained by the need to respond to high inflation and stimulate private consumption.

The day before Volkswagen’s (VW) concern was reported. plans to close at least three plants in Germanyexplaining the need for major measures depending on the emergency situation. Tens of thousands of jobs are at risk, with job cuts likely to begin in mid-2025. As explained by the head of the group’s works council, Daniela Cavallo, several plants will be closed, and additional layoffs will take place at the production sites that are left.

VW plants in Germany employ around 120,000 people, with around half of them working in Wolfsburg. The brand has a total of ten production sites in Germany: six in Lower Saxony, three in Saxony and one in Hesse. The job guarantee, which had lasted for more than 30 years, ended with VW in September.