Volkswagen bosses and workers' representatives started crunch talks Wednesday about the ailing German auto titan's drastic cost-cutting plans, with thousands of staff staging a protest and unions vowing "bitter resistance".
Europe's biggest carmaker shocked employees early this month when it said it was weighing the unprecedented step of closing factories in Germany as well as deep job cuts.
The move has triggered fury from staff representatives, who accuse VW's corporate leaders of mismanaging the 10-brand group and putting profits above building a sustainable future for the manufacturer.
The trouble at Volkswagen has come as a heavy blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government at a time the domestic economy is already struggling.
After Volkswagen's bombshell announcement, negotiations on a new pay deal were brought forward by a month.
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