WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - Accompanied by widespread warning strikes, the fourth round of negotiations has begun in the wage dispute at car manufacturer Volkswagen. Representatives of the employers' side and IG Metall met in Wolfsburg. VW is demanding a ten percent pay cut from employees due to sales difficulties. Plant closures and compulsory redundancies are also on the table.

Tens of thousands of employees protested against the cutback plans with the warning strike at nine locations. The union wants to prevent the cuts and is demanding the preservation of all locations and a job guarantee for the approximately 130,000 employees. The employee side rejects wage cuts.

VW chief negotiator Arne Meiswinkel reiterated: "We still need cost reductions that can be implemented in the short term and are sustainable." IG Metall is threatening a "strike hammer" in the new year if there is no rapprochement. It believes a conclusion before Christmas is possible, but not in today's round of negotiations./fjo/bf/DP/mis