Volkswagen's management wants to close at least three plants, cut tens of thousands of jobs, and also slash pay by 10% for remaining staff, according to a statement from staff representatives. 

European autoworkers in industriAll Europe have been calling for a European automotive plan for years. The terrible news from Volkswagen announced yesterday only makes the issue more urgent.

IndustriAll Europe calls for

  • an industrial policy framework
  • a just transition for every worker
  • investment into the automotive sector andnot the austerity being imposed

We are at a crossroads in Europe. There is no more time to waste! Deindustrialisation is no longer a threat – it is happening now! And it is happening as a result of a lack of industrial policy at national as well as European level, bad corporate decisions and lagging investment. 
More than 13 million jobs are now stake in the automotive industry.

"Commission President Ursula von der Leyen needs to show she’s on the side of industrial workers by setting up an emergency task force to end this crisis and ensure European industry has a future. Workers cannot be the one footing the bill."

"If we are to prepare for the future, we cannot lose industrial capacity and skilled workers in the coming months – we need a moratorium on forced redundancies now." Says Judith Kirton-Darling industriAll Europe General Secretary

IndustriAll Europe stands in full solidarity with the workforce of Volkswagen and with IG metall