VW, Porsche talks stumbling over labor issues?
Porsche wants to purchase Volkswagen, this much we know. But before that happens, the huge labor union at VW needs to agree on terms with Porsche management. This, as you may imagine, is proving a bit more difficult than Porsche had hoped, prompting the automaker's senior labor leader Uwe Hueck to lash out at the heads at VW. Not surprisingly, his initial attack received a response from Bernd Osterloh, the head of VW's labor union. It seems that some major sticking points exist that the organized Volkswagen employees are not too keen on, causing them to believe that they would be relegated to second-class status. Whether or not these negotiations will keep Porsche from purchasing a controlling stake in Volkswagen seems up in the air at the moment, though we wouldn't be surprised if some sort of deal were made sooner rather than later.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
azzo45 9:16AM (8/06/2008)
Wonder how many "bust up the union" comments we are going to see here (& from the same people who feel the UAW has all but killed the Detroit 3).
A business opinion between Detroit & Europe?... we'll soon see.
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rypt 9:50AM (8/06/2008)
Why cant Porshe purchase controlling stake, then just fire VW union people and hire non union labour?
Swede 10:46AM (8/06/2008)
rypt, we have labour laws in Europe to prohibit just such things. Goverments and labour unions work together in Europe, the opposite seems to be the case in the US.
Firing all union people, which is illegal in the first place, and hiring blackfeet, would lead to an instant blockade of all VW's facilities and that would halt the production instantly.
jacob 9:48AM (8/06/2008)
and we care that porsche isn't having an easy take over of a company that didn't want taken over in the first place?
ahhhhh no.
in fact.... good for you VW!
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A&W 10:31AM (8/06/2008)
From left field, I know but did anyone else think of Porsche-VW when the Ford selling Mazda news came out? I never heard that Mazda was considering or even capable of such a thing, but it seems possible.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:51AM (8/06/2008)
Isn't this the kind of problem they can easily work out with some hookers and private jet rides?
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