(ANSA-AFP) - HANOVER, DEC 2 - Thousands of Volkswagen workers
went on strike Monday in an escalating industrial dispute, with
unions warning that the crisis-hit German auto giant is intent
on making mass layoffs and closing factories. Waving signs
reading "You want war, we are ready!" and the red flags of the
powerful IG Metall Union, employees at plants across the country
walked out over management plans to make huge cuts. VW has been
hit hard by high manufacturing costs at home, a stuttering shift
to electric vehicles and tough competition in key market China.
The VW group -- which owns 10 brands from Audi and Porsche to
Skoda and Seat -- said it "respects workers' rights" and
believes in "constructive dialogue" in a bid to reach "a lasting
solution that is collectively supported". It also said that it
had taken "measures to guarantee urgent deliveries" during the
strike action. IG Metall and the works council have fought to
protect jobs since VW announced in September that it was
weighing the unprecedented step of shutting some plants in
Germany, where it has around 120,000 employees. (ANSA-AFP).
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