Opel staff strike after GM decision(2)
Thousands of German Opel workers go on strike to protest against GM's decision to keep European unit Opel, even though British Vauxhall staff were pleased with the move.
Script:
The streets fill with anger - directed against General
Motors.
Thousands of German Opel workers staged a walkout to protest
against GM's plans to keep hold of European units Opel and
Britain's Vauxhall - watched over by a statue of Opel founder Adam
Opel.
GM had planned for months to sell Opel to Canadian auto parts
maker Magna.
Workers are angry at the change of plan - as they fear GM will
now start making big job cuts.
SOUNDBITE: Christel Johann, Protesting Opel worker, saying
(German):
"What we know from General Motors isn't a good solution. We only
know their shrinkage concept and we won't give away our money for
that."
That worker's view is seconded by the head of the Opel works
council.
SOUNDBITE: Klaus Franz, head of Opel works council, saying
(German):
"I know that General Motors' traditional method is to cut
investments and scrap models, which is exactly what brought Opel to
the brink of collapse. It's not Opel that's the problem - it's
General Motors."
Around half of Opel's 50 000 European staff work in Germany.
Like Magna, GM is planning to cut around a fifth of Opel's
staff.
It's said the European unit faces insolvency if workers don't
agree to cut costs and if countries with Opel plants - like
Germany, Britain, Spain and Belgium - don't contribute to its 3
billion euro, $4.5 billion restructuring plan.
But not all staff are striking - British Vauxhall workers seemed
pleased with GM's change of heart.
And British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson says GM's
decision will end up benefiting European taxpayers.
Joanna Partridge, Reuters