GM workers protest at European plants
Just as Saab and Saturn find their futures uncertain as General Motors tries to unload as much liability as possible, so do the automaker's European brands: Opel and its counterpart in the UK, Vauxhall. Europeans, however, have a different way of dealing with the finality of job loss than we Americans do. Where we Yanks might be more inclined to form a picket line and solicit honks of support from people driving by, Europeans like to get out on the street and protest... en masse. So on the same day that General Motors released a 2008 earnings report that was worse than expected, thousands of its workers in Europe marched outside factories in solidarity.
Reports say that protests have sprung up at two Opel factories in Germany as well as sites run by GM in Britain, France, Spain and Hungary. The best hope these workers have for their brands' survival is that GM spins off Opel and Vauxhall. Whether the two brands are sold to a third party or the spin-off is financed by a group of European Union countries is yet to be determined, if it ever will be. No one seems to be in the market for auto brands these days and, as EU officials admit, there's no precedent for pooling the resources of multiple countries to save a company. And just like the U.S. requested viability plans, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is demanding a "sustainability company concept" before her country would consider giving GM any aid.
[Source: Detroit Free Press | Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Seminole 5:02PM (2/26/2009)
Uh-oh. Looks like the UAW found a map with a strange land called Europe on it.
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guerro 6:08PM (2/26/2009)
For Cripes Sake. Shut the damn companies down, sell off all the assets and let those idiots get a job somewhere else.
jpm100 5:09PM (2/26/2009)
They are waiting for an Obama bailout of the GM just like the union and bondholders.
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S S 5:11PM (2/26/2009)
I'm glad to see that at least some people are not afraid of their governments and corporative overlords and still understand what democracy and free speech are...
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AlexB 5:12PM (2/26/2009)
+1
alex 5:27PM (2/26/2009)
really? i would eat my own arm if i ever saw that same comment in a thread about a UAW strike
Big Rocket 6:25PM (2/26/2009)
@S S, AlexB: In contrast, it seemed quite pointless to me. The protest only served to notify GM and the governments that the workers are unhappy with the situation, but what would that really accomplish? Sales won't magically go up by saying, "I'm angry!" If they really want to protect their jobs, then they should get a clue and make meaningful concessions in union labor wages, benefits, etc, to help GM of Europe survive these tough economic times.
Jimbo 5:16PM (2/26/2009)
It would make no sense for GM to spin off Opel/Vauxhall. They would essentially be shutting themselves out of the European market as well as others. And the only ones even talking about spinning off Opel/Vauxhall are the unions in Europe. Those two brands are as "core" to GM as Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Holden, and moreso than GMC and Buick. Even if Opel/Vauxhalls become nothing more than rebadged Chevys (and many markets already rebadge Opels as Chevys), those marques will still exist.
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nagmashot 8:37PM (2/26/2009)
@Jimbo
...And the only ones even talking about spinning off Opel/Vauxhall are the unions in Europe...
That is completely wrong, even the managing board of Opel wants to get rid of GM leadership(they currently work on a concept to get out of GM), most politicans want it, most German citizen want it.
Most people of today see only one future for Opel... Opel independent from GM only conncet with a partnership to share technology. I am pretty sure GM will loose Opel this year if they like or not. Yesterday they claimed that GM needs much more money from Germany as they said befor, first they talked about 2billion Euro later 3billion Euro and yesterday 9billion Euro made the round... that are much more thanr $11.4billion... pretty sure for that German tax payer money Opel is cut out of GM or they recive not a single Cent from Germany...
SPF 5:18PM (2/26/2009)
What's that whale sign doing in there?
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Swede 5:30PM (2/26/2009)
"Free Willy"
Willy in this case is wearing the Opel blitz insignia.
Rends 5:34PM (2/26/2009)
"Free Opel"
EvolutionVII 5:34PM (2/26/2009)
It's a homage to "Free Willy":
http://www.fr-online.de/_em_daten/_hermes/2009/02/26/090226_wir_opel_free_dpa.jpg
It would make sense for Opel to get away from GM I guess. They have way better and more reliable cars than most of the US GM brands ever will have. I kind of feel sorry for them, because they didn't screw up here in Europe like GM did in the US. The Insignia actually looks like a neat car, the Corsa does sell pretty good here in Europe and I do believe Opel can make it on it's own.
SPF 5:41PM (2/26/2009)
Oh, okay. Thank you guys.
Yaroukh 5:56PM (2/26/2009)
So basically they protest against worldwide economic recession.
Next step will be forcing the bystanders to buy Opels, right?
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motoyen 6:51PM (2/26/2009)
I wonder how many of them actually own a GM product or actively try to convince others to buy one. Back in the late 70's Mazda was in a lot of trouble in Japan and had their employees go door to door to ask their neighbors to please consider buying a Mazda for their next car. How many union workers would do that on their own time?
It's ironic that they are protesting that no one is buying their garbage quality cars and yet they will bleed the company dry with benefits. Why weren't they protesting when GM cancelled the EV1 and instead chose to focus all their attention of giant oversized SUVs? It's that type of short term thinking that is causing the decline of the American auto industry.
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Swede 7:09PM (2/26/2009)
You are confusing GM North America with GM Europe. I can say with certanty, since I live next to a GM plant here (guess which), that the employees to a huge extent drives their own companys cars. Because unlike the american offerings, Opel and Saab are _good cars_.
gslippy 7:21PM (2/26/2009)
What exactly are they protesting, and to whom?
1. That GM's business practices are so abysmal as to sink the company?
2. That GM's products are so abysmal as to sink the company?
3. That Europe's great nations won't hand GM billions of euros to live a little longer?
4. That when GM folds, there won't be other jobs readily available?
5. That when GM folds, there won't be a golden parachute for the workers?
6. That they missed all the clear signs of GM's demise for the last decade?
Protesting is helpful if your group has some power, but unfortunately I'd suggest these people start making new career plans quickly.
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indyogb 8:03PM (2/26/2009)
I think GM should "free" Opel/Vauxhall as soon as VW "frees" their American operations (i.e. I think this protest is asinine).
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Fiaero 9:15PM (2/26/2009)
I've haven't seen that many Germans rallying together, with red flags, since................................................................never mind.
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