In the heartland of Germany’s biggest carmaker, Volkswagen, politicians have long been able to forestall the worst. Now, it seems, they no longer can.

As Volkswagen threatens to shutter German plants for the first time in the company’s 87-year history, politicians who have for decades protected workers from mass layoffs are struggling to come up with answers amid rising labor frustration and the threat of massive strikes.

“As time goes on, we are also realizing that many people are simply really angry that this is being done,” said Thorsten Gröger, chief negotiator for IG Metall, Germany’s largest labor union.

Gröger said “warning strikes” will take place before Dec. 9, ahead of the next round of negotiations with management over cost cuts, and threatened much more sweeping action should talks go poorly. “There is the possibility of larger-scale industrial action,” he said. “We are prepared for that.”