VW pushes for increased work week at same pay.

[MikeMike]

Amid massive financial problems, Volkswagen said it aims to get more bang for its euro by boosting the work week to 35 hours in six German factories.

"We plan to return to a 35-hour work week," VW personnel chief Horst Neumann told reporters following exploratory talks with the IG Metall trade union on Monday in Hanover.

Extending the work week from the current 28.8 hours to 35 without concomitant pay increases essentially amounts to a 20 percent pay reduction for workers.

Chief IG Metall negotiator Hartmut Meine rejected the suggestion, telling reporters: "There will be no tariff discussions with Volkswagen," and asked how the company planned to square its current surplus of workers with a longer work week.

The automaker has 20 percent higher labor costs than the competition

"Right now we don't have enough work to keep all employees busy with a 28.8 hour week," Meine said.

Volkswagen's four day, 28.8 hour week was part of a tariff deal struck in 2004 that aimed to save 30,000 jobs at the six western German plants. The deal was seen as extremely innovative at the time. However, pay was not lowered in lockstep with working hours, and VW's labor costs are now 20 percent higher than its competitors'.

Buyout packages offered

The 2004 accords also included an agreement not to lay off workers until the end of 2011. But in the wake of the IG Metall talks, Neumann affirmed the management board's position that the company needs to severely cut back on personnel. He said it would be "very, very difficult" to retain all 100,000 jobs currently held in the six factories in question; up to 20,000 jobs could eventually be cut.

Recently, the concern began offering its workers sweetened buyouts and early retirement deals.

Neumann said it would be ideal if the proposal for a longer work week simply went through on the first try, but added, "That won't happen."

In the negotiations Monday, VW suggested a three-step restructuring model, which includes improving productivity, lowering production costs, and increasing efficiency. No further details were available. A second round of talks is planned.

28.8 hour work weeks? holy jeebus.

 

[NatePo717]

35 hours a week? That's it??? Damn!

 

[torpid]

If you read the article you quoted they made it 28.8 in order to save jobs. Otherwise they would be working more hours and there would have been a bunch of people fired.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
28.8 hour work weeks? holy jeebus.

And look where it's put the company. But you know the union will scream bloody murder them trying to extend the work week. :roll:

 

[eshtog]

I thought it was well known that most europeans work less than americans and have more days off.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: eshtog
I thought it was well known that most europeans work less than americans and have more days off.

yup, they get 6 weeks paid vacation as well.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: eshtog
I thought it was well known that most europeans work less than americans and have more days off.

yup, they get 6 weeks paid vacation as well.

I'd rather get paid to do puzzles and play games for a 40 hour work week like some of the UAW workers we have here.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Interesting tidbit

 

[Babbles]

I think I am working for the wrong company.

 

[kranky]

Seems like a bit of a stretch to say a longer work week = a pay cut. As far as I can tell, they are going to collect the same paychecks they get today, they will just work 6.2 hours a week more for the same money. Given a choice, I think most people who might enjoy a 28.8 hour work week would choose the extra hours over less actual pay. Especially when you get six weeks vacation also.

Hard to imagine anyone having a less-than-four day work week (based on 8-hour days). Wow.

 

[NanoStuff]

VW is just too goddamn cool as a company. Don't they know the two golden rules of American capitalism? Treat your customers like the money spewing brainless ****** that they are and hold your employees by the balls.

If any one of them has a problem with 35 hours, get rid of their ass and sign me up.

 

[Eos]

I used to drive semi truck long haul. 65-75 hours weeks were the norm. Now, an 8 hour shift, 5 days a week is like a vacation...

It's all relative, homey.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: NanoStuff
VW is just too goddamn cool as a company. Don't they know the two golden rules of American capitalism? Treat your customers like the money spewing brainless ****** that they are and hold your employees by the balls.

If any one of them has a problem with 35 hours, get rid of their ass and sign me up.

They've got the first of those rules nailed.

 

[iamwiz82]

This is very common in France. Hell, they just got rid of a mandatory limit of 35 hours per week last year.

 

[torpid]

OK I'm confused. If they don't have enough work to keep people busy at 28.8 why are they upping it to 35???

 

[JS80]

Where did you get the stereotype that Americans are lazy? I thought the stereotype is that Europeans are lazy and drink all day while all Americans do is work work work and don't enjoy life.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: kranky
Seems like a bit of a stretch to say a longer work week = a pay cut. As far as I can tell, they are going to collect the same paychecks they get today, they will just work 6.2 hours a week more for the same money. Given a choice, I think most people who might enjoy a 28.8 hour work week would choose the extra hours over less actual pay. Especially when you get six weeks vacation also.

Hard to imagine anyone having a less-than-four day work week (based on 8-hour days). Wow.

Bah ....
Ratio of time to money ...
More time ... no more money = pay cut = bad

That being said ... 28.8 hours ....that's like, 3 friggin days worth of work ....