Car maker looks to reduce staff hours
Thursday 16 August 2012
Printable
EmailGeneral Motors subsidiary Opel said yesterday that it's in talks with trade unions to reduce working hours at two major plants in Germany because of a drop in vehicle sales.
Opel said it is looking to shorten working hours at its main plant in Ruesselsheim and at a smaller plant in Kaiserslautern.
The company claimed that an agreement is expected soon but wouldn't say how many workers could be affected by the cutbacks.
Ruesselsheim employs 13,000 people and Kaiserslautern has 2,500.
GM has been shaking up Opel in recent weeks, replacing many top managers including its chief executive, chief financial officer and the head of research and development.
GM has made it clear that it's determined to make its European business profitable again despite tough competition among mass-market car manufacturers, even at the cost of butchering jobs.
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