BERLIN (AP) -- A labor union agreed Monday to enter talks with Volkswagen AG on its demand that employees work longer for no extra pay at factories in Germany.þþThe IG Metall union said a commission responsible for wage agreements with Volkswagen voted in favor of entering formal talks, three days after the carmaker said it would consider guaranteeing jobs at six plants. No date was set for the meeting.þþVolkswagen, Europe's biggest car maker, is seeking drastic cuts in production costs for its VW-brand vehicles such as its flagship Golf, which are selling strongly but bringing in little profit.þþIt wants to extend the working week at six plants in western Germany that manufacture VW-brand cars from the current 28.8 hours to 35 hours.þþIn return, the IG Metall union wants the company to guarantee production levels -- protecting jobs and ensuring that the poorly utilized plants stay open.þþOn Friday, VW personnel chief Horst Neumann said the automaker was ''ready to bring the subject of production onto the right track'' and examine performance-related pay for VW workers.þþVW Chief Executive Bernd Pischetsrieder has said he wants an agreement by November so the company can make decisions on future investments.þþShares of Volkswagen fell 1.7 percent to 61.07 euros ($77.37) in Frankfurt trading.þþ
Source: NY Times
