The IG Metall trade union has called for widespread labour strikes at all Volkswagen plants in Germany from Monday.
The German automotive giant has been demanding across-the-board wage cuts for workers, and has threatened plants closures and mass lay-offs as part of a major cost-cutting programme to boost sagging financial results.
Labour leaders have vowed to wage a bitter and intense struggle against any such cuts. Collective bargaining talks between VW and the IG Metall trade union are currently ongoing, but have yielded little agreement so far.
A mandatory labour truce at VW, which prohibited strikes, expired on Saturday.
Both sides will meet for their next round of wage negotiations on December 9.
Volkswagen employees rally outside the Zwickau plant, signalling their readiness to strike as the peace obligation period, which prohibits industrial action, ends at midnight on Saturday. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
