Volkswagen: „Gehaltsfreeze bis 2030“ – VW erwägt weltweite Nullrunden

Volkswagen aims to freeze salaries globally until 2030 according to internal documents, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The German workforce union confirmed the report on Monday, which was presented to international management bodies at a recent meeting. The company declined to comment. Workers were informed about the plan late last week.

The plan took effect at the beginning of October, requiring global personnel to refrain from tariff increases. Over 660,000 employees worldwide are affected by this measure. The implementation varies from country to country, with wages negotiated locally through respective union negotiations. However, the company's guideline provides a new framework.

In Germany, approximately 275,000 employees work for Volkswagen and its subsidiaries, with around 130,000 under the company's collective agreement. Wage negotiations for metal and electric industries, including Audi, Porsche, and MAN, are already underway, with the VW collective agreement following at a later time. IG Metall demands a five percent increase within twelve months, while management has not officially presented its demands yet.

The company previously planned to include inflation compensation and salary increases in its worldwide budgets. Now, this room for maneuver will disappear, and bonuses and special benefits could also be cut. Employees are expected to work more productively and flexibly, with overtime decreasing and jobs, especially outside manufacturing, being eliminated.

The impact on each brand and location is yet to be determined. If wages remain unchanged despite rising prices, purchasing power could significantly decline. The union believes a real wage loss of around ten percent or more by 2030 is possible, depending on inflation and collective bargaining agreements. The reality depends on inflation and collective bargaining outcomes.

The company announced wage negotiations for a new pay system during the 2024 austerity package, initially conceding a 5.5 percent increase. They also agreed on a new salary system, the largest restructuring of VW's compensation structure in decades, aiming to simplify previous divisions and achieve long-term savings of six percent of personnel costs.

The transition is planned for January 1, 2027, but doubts grow internally whether the deadline will be met. Until the new system is introduced, promotions and restructurings remain on hold. According to internal sources, about "a few thousand" employees in Germany could be affected. Alongside tariff negotiations, individual salary developments and career paths are also being strengthened.

The union considers a uniform zero-round for all countries and companies unrealistic, with union negotiations being decentralized, allowing for wage increases if necessary and resorting to industrial actions. The workforce union criticizes the plan and demands an explanation from the management regarding its impact on employees.

They point out that products, technology, and demand determine competitiveness. VW faces pressure due to weak performance in China, issues with Audi and Porsche, and US tariffs. The cost-cutting measures already include job cuts, capacity reductions, and model eliminations. Altogether, more than 100,000 positions could be at risk by the end of the decade.

The zero-round plans are likely to further escalate conflicts with workers. Whether this will result in a wage freeze remains to be seen. In the metal and electric industries, strikes could occur as early as November, while at VW, they could start in January.