German Trade Union Calls for Strikes at Volkswagen from Monday

The German automotive giant has been demanding across-the-board wage cuts for workers, and has threatened plants closures and mass lay-offs as part of a major cost-cutting program to boost sagging financial results, DPA reported.

Labor leaders have vowed to wage a bitter and intense struggle against any such cuts. Collective bargaining talks between VW and the IG Metall trade union are currently ongoing, but have yielded little agreement so far.

A mandatory labor truce at VW, which prohibited strikes, expired on Saturday.

Both sides will meet for their next round of wage negotiations on December 9.