BRATISLAVA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Talks on a new collective agreement between the Modern Trade Union Volkswagen and Volkswagen Slovakia concluded without any result on Friday.
"The situation that we've found ourselves in after eleven rounds of talks doesn't please us, but it's our duty to fight for our employees, on whom the success of this plant is based, even via a full-fledged strike," trade union chief Zoroslav Smolinsky said, adding that the union is demanding a salary increase by an average of 16 percent.
Meanwhile, VW SK wants to continue the talks offering above-standard salary conditions and a generous social program.
"Demands for salary increases of 16 percent are unacceptable, as this would significantly endanger the company's competitiveness and future, as well as the stability of jobs," said VW spokesperson Lucia Kovarovic Makayova.
There has not been a strike in the VW SK since the establishing of the plant in 1992.
VW SK produced 396,000 vehicles last year and employs 12,000 people. In 2016 its profit reached 213 million euros (238 million U.S. dollars).
