Collective bargaining at carmaker Volkswagen has begun. The IG Metall trade union is demanding, among other things, 8 percent more money for the approximately 125,000 employees in the area covered by the company collective agreement. Negotiations have been going on in Braunschweig since the afternoon.

IG Metall district chief Thorsten Gröger explained in advance that the VW group has come through the various crises well so far. The shareholders have already let VW participate in the good business situation with a record dividend. It is now expected that the employer will "ensure that incomes are stabilized in the current situation" and thus keep private consumption alive. But tough talks are expected.

VW: "Many uncertainties"

In addition to the wage increase, IG Metall is also demanding an extension of the collective agreement on partial retirement, more days off for members of the union and the assumption of semester fees for employees in dual studies.

VW negotiator Arne Meiswinkel said: "The 2022 collective bargaining round will be challenging due to the large number of uncertainties." It will be about "jointly achieving a viable solution for the employees and for the company". That was achieved in 2021 and also the goal for this year's collective bargaining round.

The VW company tariff applies to the core workforce of the six west German VW locations in Braunschweig, Emden, Hanover, Kassel, Salzgitter and Wolfsburg as well as at some subsidiaries. The peace obligation ends on November 30, 2022.