Volkswagen Union leaders warned CEO Oliver Blume that the restructuring agreement reached last week did not mean that management was authorized to let go ahead with the reforms, which indicates that disputes over jobs and the future of the factory will continue. The trade union side issued a statement on the Volkswagen intranet on Monday to express this position. This highlights the challenge Blume is facing: he is moving from seeking broad support for the restructuring plan to finalizing specific implementation details for each plant and project. Although the Supervisory Board approved his overall direction of reform, many of the most controversial measures still require detailed plans, further approval, and negotiations with strong employee representatives. Union leaders said that the Supervisory Board unanimously approved the restructuring plan, which did not mean that Bloom received a “blank check.” The layoff of about 50,000 new jobs is still only a planned goal, not a formal plan that has already been agreed upon. Management still needs to explain where, why, and when the layoffs will take place. A trade union spokesperson said that the existing collective bargaining agreement is still in effect.

Volkswagen Union leaders warned CEO Oliver Blume that the restructuring agreement reached last week did not mean that management was authorized to let go ahead with the reforms, which indicates that disputes over jobs and the future of the factory will continue. The trade union side issued a statement on the Volkswagen intranet on Monday to express this position. This highlights the challenge Blume is facing: he is moving from seeking broad support for the restructuring plan to finalizing specific implementation details for each plant and project. Although the Supervisory Board approved his overall direction of reform, many of the most controversial measures still require detailed plans, further approval, and negotiations with strong employee representatives. Union leaders said that the Supervisory Board unanimously approved the restructuring plan, which did not mean that Bloom received a “blank check.” The layoff of about 50,000 new jobs is still only a planned goal, not a formal plan that has already been agreed upon. Management still needs to explain where, why, and when the layoffs will take place. A trade union spokesperson said that the existing collective bargaining agreement is still in effect.