At the same time as the bad news
VW bosses go on a multi-million dollar “school trip” to Sweden
06.09.2024, 16:29
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A Van Gogh exhibition is currently taking place in the “Artipelag”, a modern cultural centre. VW managers were the exclusive visitors for three days. The struggling company had rented the entire facility. What’s interesting is that at the same time the employees are being ordered to cut costs.
In view of the crisis at the car manufacturer VW and the threat of cuts to personnel, a state of emergency has been declared in Wolfsburg. But while the employees fear for their jobs, the top management is meeting in a modern cultural center in Sweden. “Some of the VW top brass are dining in the posh ‘Artipelag’ in Stockholm, a mixture of museum and luxury hotel,” writes IG Metall Wolfsburg on its websiteVW rented the entire facility from September 4 to 6.
Corporate and brand executives and their top management circles would hold the “Global Top Management Conference” there. Nothing more specific is known about the “multi-million dollar costs of this top management school trip to the Swedish archipelago,” the website says. While the union representatives even take a look at the menu at the resort, the program is all the more exciting. “According to the agenda, three days are planned for the Stockholm party for the best-paid people from Europe’s largest industrial group.” The first day is for arrival, the third is just for departure. The second day has “conferences and dinner” on the program.
The main focus of the conference is virtual reality. Since it is an internal event, participants are also prohibited from engaging in any social media activities. However, the “Artipelag” is not used as an overnight accommodation option. The top managers were accommodated in four-star hotels in downtown Stockholm.
IG Metall ready to talk and fight
The core brand of the Volkswagen Group announced a tougher austerity plan on Monday after a management meeting and no longer ruled out plant closures and redundancies. CEO Oliver Blume cited the difficult situation on the European car market and the deteriorating competitiveness of German production sites as reasons. The works council rejects this and accuses management of making serious mistakes.
IG Metall had sharply criticized the company’s management and reiterated its tough stance. “The employees will not accept wage cuts or their jobs as a result of years of making the wrong decisions,” said IG Metall boss Christiane Benner. IG Metall is willing to talk to find solutions – but also “ready to fight.”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the search for “common solutions”. “VW’s announcements are shocking,” explained Benner. The fact that the company is now questioning locations, job security and collective bargaining standards in this difficult situation is “an admission of a lack of planning on the part of the company.”