Unionised workers at Audi’s Mexico unit initiated a strike on Wednesday, citing a failure to reach a consensus on a new contract with the carmaker. Approximately 1,000 workers participated in protests outside the Audi plant in Puebla, demanding a wage increase and expressing dissatisfaction with the negotiation process.
Audi stated that the union rejected its proposed 6.5% salary raise and insisted on a 15.5% increase, a figure not immediately confirmed by union leader Cesar Orta. The carmaker expressed openness to dialogue but deemed a 15.5% wage hike as “beyond any comparative parameter.”
In the previous year, Audi and the Independent Union of Audi Mexico Workers (SITAUDI) agreed to a 9.4% salary raise, marking one of the most substantial wage increases for automaker workers in Mexico in recent times.
Cesar Orta, addressing supporters outside the Audi plant, affirmed a commitment to ongoing negotiations, stating, “We are going to continue negotiating and will bring agreements to consultation only when we consider that they really dignify workers.”
Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, employs around 5,000 workers at the Puebla plant. The strike reflects the challenges in reaching a consensus on wage-related matters and underscores the importance of fair compensation in the automotive manufacturing sector in Mexico. The company’s willingness to engage in further negotiations remains a key aspect as both parties seek a resolution to the ongoing dispute.