Volkswagen workers across Germany protest against company's plan to cut 100.000 jobs

Volkswagen workers across Germany protested today against the company's plan to cut 100.000 jobs, the British newspaper The Guardian reports.

The IG Metal union organized demonstrations involving union representatives and union council members in front of 17 factories of Europe's largest car manufacturer and its headquarters in Wolfsburg.

The influential union told CEO Oliver Blume that it could not "shift responsibility for the failures of recent years onto the workforce."

Union president Kristijan Benner said the protests sent a clear signal to the board of directors, which has been tasked with reviewing the job cuts plan for the first time today.

Demonstrations were held at factories that produce cars for Volkswagen and other brands in the production group, including Audi, Porsche and truck and bus manufacturer Man.

Stefan Soldanski, the leader of the IG Metal union at Volkswagen's Osnabrück plant, said he wanted direct answers from the companies about the plans.

"We need a future for our Wolfsburg factory, but also for all other factories. Only the board of directors can guarantee it," Soldanski told local media.

A Volkswagen spokesman said the company was fighting for its long-term survival and added that he understood the employees' concerns: "We understand that employees are concerned about the future of our company. The Executive Board and Supervisory Board share this concern regarding the future of the Volkswagen Group."

With more than 650.000 employees across Germany and around 3 million employed directly and indirectly in the country's automotive industry, the Volkswagen board meeting is seen as a major test for the future of the German economy.