No Shift to the Right - IG Metall Wins Election at VW Zwickau - Volkswagen's Zwickau plant slashes shifts and jobs ahead of critical election
Volkswagen's Zwickau plant has cut shifts and jobs, leaving workers uneasy ahead of a key election. The company plans to axe 35,000 roles across Germany by 2030, with some losses hitting Saxony. Staff recently voted for new representatives amid growing concerns over job security.
The Zwickau factory, a leader in electric vehicle production for VW, has already reduced its shifts from three to two. This change has led to roughly 1,200 job losses so far. With morale low, the works council election drew significant attention.
Around 8,200 employees were eligible to vote for their new worker representatives. The IG Metall union, which previously held nearly 89 percent of support, secured over 81 percent this time. This translated to 29 out of 35 seats on the council.
Two other groups also gained seats. The 'Alternative List' (Liste 1) won just over 7.3 percent of the vote, earning two positions. Meanwhile, the 'Free Works Council Alliance,' seen as close to the far-right AfD, took 11.5 percent and four seats.
Volkswagen's broader plan involves cutting 35,000 jobs nationwide by 2030 due to excess capacity. While the Zwickau plant faces reductions, details on how many Saxony roles will go—and which sites beyond Zwickau are affected—remain unclear. The company has confirmed it will close the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden by the end of 2025.
The election results show strong continued backing for IG Metall, though smaller groups have gained a foothold. Volkswagen's job cuts will reshape its German workforce, but the exact impact on Saxony's plants is still uncertain. Workers now await further decisions on production and staffing levels.
