Volkswagen employees will begin striking next week as union leaders and the German auto company failed to agree on how to cut costs amid a slow electric-vehicle market and fierce competition, a union official said Friday.

Volkswagen , under pressure by high costs and Chinese competition, brushed off union proposals for cost savings on Friday, just days ahead of planned walkouts meant to avoid unprecedented plant closures.

An agreement not to hold strikes ended on November 30. "Accordingly, strikes are possible and also necessary from the beginning of December," the union said. "Volkswagen will determine at the negotiating table how long and how hard the conflict will be - the VW workforce throughout the country is ready to strike," it added.

German Volkswagen employees have reached their limit. They are threatening a warning strike that could potentially escalate into a prolonged protest. On 21 November, after the third round of negotiations with the company's management ended in failure,

Volkswagen, under pressure from high costs and Chinese competition, rejected union proposals for cost savings on Friday, just days ahead of planned walkouts meant to avoid unprecedented plant closures.