In the note, published by the Inter-Union Federation of Metallurgical, Chemical, Electrical, Pharmaceutical, Cellulose, Paper, Graphic, Press, Energy and Mining Industries (Fiequimetal), the Site Sul "defends that the salary increase could be improved".

"The vote was scheduled for the 23rd and 24th, and the early voting period is underway", he said, recalling that, as it was announced, "the administration decided to accept a two-year pre-agreement, instead of the three years it had previously intended. It did not change the other matters".

"For the Site Sul Trade Union Committee, this administration's retreat proves that, in a calm but determined manner, the workers made their dissatisfaction and their demands heard", he said.

The union recalled that it has defended that "a three-year agreement would only mortgage the future and condition the workers' demands, in a context of great social and political instability".

The union then said that, "despite the retreat in the duration of the agreement, the VW Group and the administration in Palmela have conditions to improve their proposal, in the values presented in the matter of salary increase, especially for the year 2025".

Site Sul recalled that, "despite the fact that the forecasts for the inflation rate in 2025 again indicate lower values, the same will not happen with the cost of living", stressing that it "has increased much more than the inflation rates that have been announced".

"The union regrets that, once again, the workers were not given the opportunity to collectively discuss this proposal, before being called to vote on the outcome of the negotiations", he said.

Site Sul also stressed that, regarding production stoppages, included in the unit's production schedule, recently released, "workers cannot be penalized in their entire remuneration, for reasons beyond their control and that are related to the administration's unilateral decision".

On Thursday, the Autoeuropa administration proposed maintaining the pre-labor agreement rejected by 57.7% of the workers at the Palmela factory, but now valid for two years instead of three, the Workers' Committee announced that day.

In addition to the 6.8% salary increase in 2024, the pre-agreement guarantees a minimum increase of 2.6% in 2025, or 0.6% above the average inflation of the previous year, and an annual target bonus, which could provide, on average, more than 2,500 euros to each worker.

It also provides for a one-off bonus to be awarded in 2025, equivalent to one month's salary, for the launch of the new T-Roc hybrid model, which will be produced from next year at the Volkswagen factory in Palmela, in the district of Setúbal.

The proposal of the Autoeuropa administration, which fully maintains the benefits provided for in the pre-agreement rejected by the workers on April 3, and which only reduces its validity period from three to two years, will be submitted to a new referendum in the next days 23 and 24 of April, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Volkswagen Autoeuropa, one of the largest national exporters, produced a total of 220,100 T-Roc cars last year, the only model in production at the Palmela factory.

Read Also: Autoeuropa proposes reduction of validity of pre-labor agreement (Portuguese version)