German car workers defy union calls to end strike
Tuesday 19 October 2004
Printable
EmailANGRY German car workers at an Adam Opel plant remained on strike yesterday in protest at plans by parent company General Motors to cut thousands of jobs, defying calls from union leaders and the government to return to work.
Employee delegates at the plant in Bochum, where workers stopped production on Thursday, have demanded assurances that no-one will be fired.
"We will fight on and we will show the company our teeth," shouted worker delegate Franco Biagiotti.
Workers gathered in the cold at the factory gate for a fifth day clapped and chanted: "We stand together!"
"We have nothing to lose and we are securing a good starting position for negotiations," Mr Biagiotti said.
GM announced on Thursday that it expects to shed 12,000 jobs in Europe by the end of 2006 - mostly in Germany - to cut 500 million euros (£355 million) in costs annually at its loss-making Opel, Vauxhall and Saab operations.
Worker delegates and management held talks yesterday at Opel headquarters in Ruesselsheim on the company's plans in Germany.
Mr Biagiotti warned that a lack of parts supplied from Bochum would lead to stoppages at other GM plants in Europe.
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