«Gewerkschaftsfresser» oder Stimme der Vernunft? So tickt der harte Mann im VW-Vorstand

Manfred Döss, the head of legal and ethics at Volkswagen, is aggressively pushing for a no-compromise approach to the company's future. He views the firm as being under threat and refuses to accept that layoffs have been completed. Calling him a "steel-elbow hardliner" and a "Gewerkschaftsfresser" (workplace sabotage) are common labels in German media.

Döss describes himself as a voice of economic reason in a company where workers' unions and state politics often overshadow rational decision-making. The majority of the supervisory board consists of employees, who can prevent more ambitious cost-cutting measures from being implemented. Döss believes that there were too many compromises in the past, resulting in a decline in the company's competitiveness.

He has previously argued for tougher cuts, but they were not enough to change the outcome. Now, he presents a "future plan" for reducing an additional 50,000 jobs by 2030 and closing four German plants. Despite opposition from the works council and state politicians, Döss pushed for strict adherence to the plan. He even threatened to call an extraordinary shareholders' meeting if the supervisory board resisted.

While some view his methods as harsh, Döss insists that they are within the legal framework. The worsening creditworthiness of the company and rising refinancing costs pose significant risks, and Döss insists that the future of Volkswagen must be addressed.