Volkswagen's CEO and labour boss clashed during a staff meeting on Wednesday, with management pushing for major cuts while workers warned of more strikes if plant closures remain part of wage negotiations at the embattled German automaker.

Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume told workers that current union proposals to cut costs offer a starting point for negotiations but don’t go far enough to address flagging competitiveness at the carmaker’s namesake brand.

STORY: Workers at nine Volkswagen plants across Germany brought production to a standstill on Monday (). They went on strike for several hours in an intensifying standoff over wages and the future of the carmaker's operations.