--- title: "No Shift to the Right: IG Metall Wins Election at VW Zwickau" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/279087491.md" description: "The recent works council elections at Volkswagen's Zwickau plant saw IG Metall secure over 81% of the votes, despite a decrease from last year's nearly 89%. The right-leaning \"Bündnis freie Betriebsräte\" received 11.5%, while \"Die Andere Liste\" garnered over 7.3%. IG Metall's Thomas Knabel expressed confidence in representing employee interests amid job cuts and uncertainty in the automotive sector, with 35,000 jobs to be cut nationwide by 2030. The election results indicate strong support for IG Metall as it prepares for future challenges in the automotive region." datetime: "2026-03-13T20:10:04.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279087491.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/279087491.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/279087491.md) --- # No Shift to the Right: IG Metall Wins Election at VW Zwickau ZWICKAU (dpa-AFX) - The feared major shift to the right in the works council elections at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau has failed to materialize. Although IG Metall received fewer votes than a year ago, it still secured more than 81 percent, according to a statement from the union. The "Bündnis freie Betriebsräte" (Alliance of Free Works Councils), considered close to the AfD, received 11.5 percent, while List 1, "Die Andere Liste" (The Other List), garnered just over 7.3 percent. Approximately 8,200 employees were called upon to elect their new employee representatives. "With this support, we as the IG Metall team enter the upcoming disputes over the future of the site - and thus the entire automotive region - strengthened and confident," declared Thomas Knabel, first representative of IG Metall Zwickau. "The shift to the right, widely suspected in advance, has proven to be a media phantom. This workforce knows very well who stands up for their interests and who does not - the clear result shows that as well." Rösler: Coming Years Decisive for Automotive Region The lead candidate for the IG Metall list, Mike Rösler, spoke of a time when many employees are feeling uncertain. "The next four years will be decisive for the future of our entire automotive region," said the current deputy chairman of the works council. "We will do everything to ensure that operations continue here at the site beyond 2030, for secure jobs and a strong industrial region in Zwickau." Due to overcapacity at its German sites, Volkswagen is cutting 35,000 jobs nationwide by 2030. This also affects locations in Saxony. While the Transparent Factory in Dresden has completely ceased car production, the vehicle plant in Zwickau must give up the production of several models for the foreseeable future. Instead of the previous three shifts, work is now only carried out in two shifts. Job Cuts Also at VW in Zwickau As a result, 1,200 jobs have already been cut according to reports - through age-related departures, severance agreements, and because fixed-term contracts were not renewed. Some fear that car production could be discontinued entirely when the current site guarantee expires after 2030. Within the VW Group, the car factory is a pioneer in e-mobility. Only electric cars are built here. In the last election just over a year ago, IG Metall at Volkswagen in Zwickau received even greater support with almost 89 percent than in the current election. However, there was more competition this time with a total of three lists. Of the 35 seats in the new body, 29 now go to IG Metall, 4 to the Bündnis freie Betriebsräte, and 2 to "Die Andere Liste"./hum/DP/mis ### Related Stocks - [VOW.DE](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VOW.DE.md) - [VWAPY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VWAPY.US.md) - [CARZ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CARZ.US.md) - [VWAGY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VWAGY.US.md) - [CARU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CARU.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Volkswagen ends US production of its EV, citing market's 'unpredictability'](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282242206.md) - [Key facts: VW to Cut 50000 German Jobs by 2030;SA+7% APexCN-8% MEA-5.3%](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282614787.md) - [Volkswagen deliveries down at start of year, weighed by China woes](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282514171.md) - [Volkswagen Is Killing The ID.4 In the U.S. Its Plant Will Make More Gas SUVs Instead](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282224813.md) - [Volkswagen ends U.S. ID.4 production, shifts focus back to gas SUVs](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282370742.md)