Factory Meeting at VW Offers Glimpse into Golf 9 - Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant gears up for pivotal employee assembly and bonus talks
Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant will host a major employee assembly on Thursday morning. Thousands of staff are expected to gather in Hall 11 as the company prepares for key announcements. The event comes ahead of next week's works council elections, where current chair Daniela Cavallo will seek re-election.
The assembly begins at 9:30 a.m. in the main plant's largest hall. Over 60,000 workers are employed at the Wolfsburg site, with many set to attend. Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer will speak to the workforce and unveil the first silhouette of the all-electric Golf 9, due for production by the end of the decade.
Cavallo, who leads the IG Metall slate, is pushing for a one-time recognition bonus for all employees under collective bargaining agreements. Her demand follows Volkswagen's strong financial results, with free cash flow rising by six billion euros in 2023. The improvement came from higher sales, cost cuts, better supply chain management, and lower material prices.
In the 2022 works council election, Cavallo's team won 85.5 percent of the vote. Group CEO Oliver Blume, however, will not address the assembly this time.
The assembly sets the stage for next week's elections and discussions on bonuses. Volkswagen's financial growth and the upcoming Golf 9 launch are likely to shape the talks. Workers will hear directly from leadership before casting their votes in the council race.
