VW works council boss resigns: shock after alcohol accident!

VW works council boss resigns: shock after alcohol accident!

Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH is under the spell of an unexpected resignation: Uwe Kunstmann, head of the works council in Zwickau, announced his decision to retire from his positions on September 5th. The reason for this step is “serious personal mistakes,” which Kunstmann himself addressed in a letter to the workforce. In particular, a traffic accident that he caused in July led to this decisive step because he was “endangering others.” Kunstmann, who will remain in office until the end of September to ensure an orderly transition, describes his behavior as not exemplary and hopes that his resignation will not further burden the work of the works council. Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH accepts his resignation, but does not comment further, while the general works council thanks Kunstmann for his efforts in co-determination and assesses his resignation as “consistent and correct”.

But that's not all: Kristin Oder, the deputy head of the works council, also announced her resignation. Her resignation is less serious and is intended to give her the opportunity to reorient herself professionally. With these two departures, IG Metall is under pressure to appoint a successor by October, as the next works council election is scheduled for January.

Investigations and their consequences

The situation is further complicated by the fact that there is a police investigation underway against Kunstmann. According to reports, on July 12, he evaded a traffic stop and caused an accident while intoxicated. These investigating authorities have accused him of serious misconduct. In a letter to the workforce, Kunstmann openly admits that his behavior did not fulfill the role model function of a works council chairman. His cooperation with the investigation shows the seriousness with which he views the whole thing.

The metal workers' association IG Metall is concerned about developments at VW and at the same time must find solutions to avoid plant closures and layoffs. In a framework that includes both salary cuts and cost-cutting measures, a round of collective bargaining is just around the corner that poses challenges for future employment. IG Metall is demanding guarantees for locations and employment, while at the same time there is the need to reduce labor costs by over 1.5 billion euros. The Zwickau plant is particularly affected by this, as only fully electric vehicles have been produced since November 2019. However, demand is weak, which also leads to non-renewal of fixed-term contracts and the cancellation of night shifts.

A look into the future

The employees in Zwickau are worried about the coming months. New, cheaper electric models are in the starting blocks for the IAA Mobility, with hopes resting on them to revive demand. Nevertheless, Kunstmann's resignation and the uncertainty surrounding the works council structure could have long-term effects on the motivation of employees and the work of the works council. The next steps will be crucial for many: first the choice of successors and then the wage increases and flexible working time models that are intended to secure jobs.

The coming months offer a lot of uncertainty for Volkswagen, but the path for both Kunstmann's successor and the future direction of the company will be crucial in order to get the workforce and the risks under control.