Today, on December 17, 2024, the management of the VOLKSWAGEN Group and union representatives are meeting in Hanover for their fifth round of negotiations. Among other things, the Group wants to make ten thousand employees redundant and close three factories in Germany. VW bosses have been tough in the previous four rounds of negotiations. In 2018, ethecon publicly condemned those responsible at the VOLKSWAGEN Group with the International ethecon Dead Planet Award. Among other things, the justification stated: “On their account are the ruin of human health and the destruction of the environment on a grand scale … They are not only a threat to peace and human rights, but also to democracy, ecology and humanity as a whole.” ethecon is now calling for solidarity with the struggling workers.
Before the start of today’s round of negotiations in Hanover, around 100,000 employees of the VOLKSWAGEN Group had already gone on strike twice. Without effect, the Management Board did not give an inch: At least 30,000 employees must leave, at least three factories in Germany will be closed. At AUDI, part of the corporation, the closure of the factory in Brussels and the dismissal of around 3,000 employees there was announced three weeks ago despite months of intense strikes.
At the workers‘ meeting in Wolfsburg the week before last, Group boss Blume heard from the 20,000 or so people present what the mood among the workforce was like. His speech was repeatedly interrupted by the thunderous slogan “Ready to strike! Nationwide!”
In 2023, the Chairman of the Board of Management at VW received over 10 million euros, all members of the Board of Management together around 40 million euros. The Group’s shareholders collected dividends of €4.5 billion in June 2024 and around €22 billion in the years 2021 to 2023. 1.8 billion profit has been accrued at VW so far as profit for 2024. Employees, on the other hand, are expected to pay with existential fear, redundancies and factory closures.
In 2018, the International ethecon Dead Planet Award went to those responsible behind the criminal conglomerate. The statement of reasons at the time read: “In a world increasingly focused on profit as the only criterion for all decisions and development, they stand as a powerful few against the interests of humanity. Always well secured and protected, autocratic and increasingly not subject to any laws or jurisdiction. They are among those to whom humanity owes war, exploitation and environmental destruction. … They are responsible for oppression, exploitation, human rights violations, destruction of nature and social misery in an shocking manner. … They are not only a threat to peace and human rights, but also to democracy, ecology and humanity as a whole. They act for the benefit of personal power and private enrichment. In return, they trample morals and ethics underfoot …”
Now the signs at VOLKSWAGEN are pointing to a storm. Ready to strike! Nationwide!
ethecon Foundation Ethics & Economics calls for solidarity with the struggling workforce. Marius Dornemann, Executive Director at ethecon: “A company like VW, which only has profit in mind, is trying to pass on its home-made crisis to the employees. If there is enough public pressure, there is a chance that the workforce’s demands will be successful. And we are all responsible for this pressure. Solidarity is the order of the day!”
ethecon demands:
VW must accept the demands of the employees without exception! No loss of jobs due to wrong decisions by the top management! Wage increases instead of real wage losses!
VW must stop the exploitation and ruin of people and the environment immediately!
VW must ensure social justice, safety and human rights at all production sites and at all suppliers!
VW must immediately compensate the victims and surviving dependents of German fascism and the military dictatorship in Brazil!
VW must stand up for ethical investments and solidarity projects instead of chasing profit!