German union slams Volkswagen for 'irresponsibly' ending wage deals

Germany's IG Metall union has sharply criticized the management of Volkswagen after the carmaker terminated the majority of its collective wage agreements in the country, saying the move was "disrespectful" and "irresponsible."

Volkswagen, Europe's largest carmaker, ended the collective agreements on Wednesday, saying they needed to be adjusted in light of cost pressures. 

IG Metall's regional director Thorsten Gröger told the Deutschlandfunk broadcaster on Friday that the way the termination was handled was "disrespectful to the company's own employees" and "irresponsible" because it was triggering a conflict that Volkswagen could do without.

Gröger said employee representatives were blindsided by the news, which was reported by the press while they were sat in a meeting with the company in which "not a word was said about plans to terminate collective agreements."

He described the termination of the framework collective agreement as a "unique event in Volkswagen's history," and said employee representatives were prepared for the coming dispute.

Volkswagen is planning to cut 50,000 jobs around the world in the coming years, on top of existing redundancy plans. 

Brands and subsidiaries have already been tasked with planning the job cuts, half of which could affect German sites. Specific plans must first be negotiated with the employees.