Volkswagen workers in Mexico empower union to call strike

Unionized autoworkers have until Aug. 18 to settle wage negotiations with Volkswagen

More than 3,000 autoworkers at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Puebla, Mexico, approved going on strike if a salary negotiation is not settled by Aug. 18. Pictured are workers assembling a Tiguan in Puebla. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Autoworkers at Volkswagen’s (OTCMKTS: VWAGY) plant in Puebla, Mexico, recently voted to go on strike if wage negotiations can’t be settled by Aug. 18.

More than 3,100 members of the Independent Union of Workers of the Volkswagen Automotive Industry (SITIAVW) approved union representatives to negotiate a salary increase and that the review be carried under the terms of the workers’ collective bargaining agreement.

Volkswagen’s plant in the central Mexican city makes the Taos, Tiguan, Jetta and Golf models for sale in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and other markets, and is one of the largest auto factories in the country.

The SITIAVW vote took place Friday and the results were released Monday. Union officials have not specified how much of a salary increase they are seeking. More than 1,600 workers voted against empowering the union to strike.

In 2020, SITIAVW sought a 12% wage increase for workers. The proposal was rejected by Volkwagen, which negotiated a 3.62% wage increase and 1.84% increase in benefits.

Worker pay at Volkswagen’s plant in Puebla ranges from about $15 per day for new employees to more than $50 per day for veteran workers.

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney.

More articles by Noi Mahoney

Mexico records 692 commercial cargo thefts in April

Can Mexico capitalize on US automakers’ pivot to electric vehicles?

Driver shortage affecting cross-border trucking


Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Noi Mahoney

Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Maryland and Texas. Contact nmahoney@freightwaves.com