More Sacrifices Not Excluded
2009/09/23
Recent reports confirm that the job cuts at Opel, intended by the new owner, Magna, will primarily affect Belgium, Spain and Great Britain. The Belgian plant in Antwerp is set to be completely shut down; whereas a one-third reduction in personnel is planned for the Spanish plant in Zaragoza and the British Ellesmere Port and Luton plants. In Germany the planned reduction will be but one-sixth of its personnel, significantly less than in the rival plants abroad. Of political significance is the fact that a considerable portion of the capacity lost in Germany, will be transferred to Austria, whose economy is closely linked to Germany's. (german-foreign-policy.com reported.[1]) These plans represent a further consolidation of the European automobile industry in the hands of the EU's hegemonic power, Germany.
Protests
Massive protests are taking place in the countries affected by these cuts. Several thousands of demonstrators are expected in Antwerp today, where a symbolic human chain is to be formed around the plant due to be shut down. Observers are estimating that the plant closure will affect, not only the 2,500 Antwerpian Opel workers, but put at least as many employees of subcontracting firms also out of work - a heavy blow to Belgian industry.
A Stitch-Up
Also in Great Britain, resistance is growing to these plans for job cuts. Unite, the largest trade union in the country, is demanding "an immediate meeting with Magna in order for this deal to be renegotiated." According to Unite's joint general secretary Tony Woodley, at least 1,830 jobs would be cut directly, more than is officially admitted. These job losses are the beginning of the end for Vauxhall, a British company, founded in 1857, with a long tradition.[2] The joint general secretary is calling on the EU to intervene. The agreement between GM and Magna is a "political stitch-up" with the German government.
By All Means Necessary
In Spain as well there have been hard protests against the Magna plans. Led and supported by various trade unions, up to 40,000, including prominent politicians, demonstrated in Zaragoza Saturday. More demonstrations are planned as well as a strike, to lend emphasis "by all means necessary" to the demand to lessen the burden on Spain.[3] The tone is growing sharper between Spain and Germany. For example the regional chairperson of the conservative party of Spain (PP) in Aragón declared that in this conflict it depends on the "weight a country wields".[4] This expresses the lack of understanding the regional government of Aragón has for the transfer to Eisenach Germany of production of the Corsa. In Eisenach production costs are higher than in Zaragoza. The Spanish government plans to have the EU intervene. The Minister of the Economy is raising serious accusations against Berlin, saying he had never been personally informed of the terms of the Magna plan, but merely called upon to participate in the billions in financial credits.
Not that Dramatic
The Belgians, British and Spanish workers cannot hope for solidarity from the German unions. In fact, the IG-Metall and the German shop committee were struggling to have Opel sold to Magna [5] - well aware of the plans that the job cuts would be more massive elsewhere than in Germany. Those who are "not in a competitive position", will have "to look" job reductions in the eye, declared the chairman of the German Opel Shop Committee, Klaus Franz last week. The Opel workers in Belgium, Great Britain and Poland should be grateful for the German government's engagement for the Magna deal, otherwise "these plants would have become insolvent". Referring to the job cuts in the other European countries, Franz declared, "I don't find it that dramatic." Franz also heads Opel's European shop stewards [6], allegedly representing the interests of also the non-German Opel workers, who are holding crisis talks today.
Voluntary
The German unionists' obstinate struggle in favor of the Magna deal, which will reinforce the German automobile industry's predominance in Europe, coincides with their ambitions to obtain new positions of power within the corporation itself. Under the slogan "employee participation," ten percent of Opel's shares should verbally be allotted to employees. Certain circles inside the union would like to have these shares transferred de facto to a company, in which union functionaries and shop stewards would have the power of decision.[7] This position of power is being bought with the losses in salaries of the employees, who are supposed to renounce on 1.5 billion Euros in wages over the next five years - as "voluntary" payment for these 10 percent in shares. These representatives, elected by the workers, will then become co-shareholders, defending Germany, as the production site, against the interests of the workers of Belgium, Great Britain and Spain, but also to restrict the workers here in Germany. This is apparent through recent statements made by Berthold Huber, IG Metall Chairman. According to Huber - in addition to the current loss of jobs and the renunciation of wages - further "sacrifices" in the future "are not excluded."[8]
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