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12/04/2007

Delta-Negotiations statement by Kennes

This is a short video-statement from the vice-chairman of the European Employee Forum, Rudi Kennes, about the current Delta-negotiations at General Motors Europe.

The video was recorded directly after the negotiations between employee representatives and the GME management on Thursday 12. of April in Rüsselsheim. The negotiations will be continued on Tuesday 17. April 2007 in Brussels.

Rudi Kennes is Vice-Chairman of the General Motors' European Employee Forum and Chairman of the Delta Working Group which is composed of union and plant representatives of Trollhättan (Sweden), Gliwice (Poland), Ellesmere Port (UK), Bochum (Germany) and his own home plant Antwerp (Belgium).

Today Rudi attended a meeting of the small working group with GM Management to investigate alternatives to a plant closure in connection with the allocation of the next global Delta platform (Astra) in Europe. GM Management set up a so-called site selection process including the above mentioned plants to try to play off workers against workers and unions against unions.

The European coordination of the involved plants has been successful until now because since 1 year no union or local works council has signed a local contract with commitments as demanded by GM Management.

We would appreciate it to get your comment on Rudi's video and we try to respond as soon as possible. You can be sure that we take your considerations in account whenever it is possible.

Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug,
Coordinator of the GM European Employee Forum (EEF)

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Dear Brothers and Sisters, thank you for this fine example of how we can build communication, knowledge and solidarity across our national and geographical borders. Best wishes for the negotiations!
Don
Great Rudi, but just heard today on the shop floor in my plant that the
impact of the new Delta for every plant who will get Astra is a big loss of
jobs even without a closure. Engineers explained that this is called lower
basic engeeniring content, nice word for destroying thousands of jobs.
Ellesmere Port lost over 1000 jobs, now Management said that every Delta
plant must cut jobs for the new Astra. Rumours are that over 4500 jobs are
in danger, 1700 in Bochum, 1300 in Antwerp and 1400 in Trollhättan. Only
Gliwice has to pay no price at all. I can tell you here is a hell of trouble
going on. Is all this right, anybody knows more? I think it is the time to
act, workers in all GM plants. What will be left from our plants after
that??. What happens when more jobs get lost by closing one or two plants?
7.000, 8.000 jobs or more?? This sounds after the restructuring plan 2004
(loss of 12.000 jobs in Europe), but the company in Europe is earning now
money, that's different. When they outsource thousands of jobs who will do
this work in the future? Eastern Europe? Korea?
Wenn das was ich in den letzten Tag las und heute hier im blog sehe stimmt,
dann sollten wir als Werker in den Powertrain-Werken ganz schnell aufwachen,
sonst werden alle unsere Werke einzeln vom Management abgefrühstückt, oder
glaubt irgendeiner dass der Zug nach Osten bei uns nicht auch versucht
wird?? Die geplanten Powertrain-Werkschließungen in Södertälje, Göteborg,
Bochum und Kaiserslautern zeigen doch wohin die Reise geht, oder? Wieviel
Motoren und Getriebe werden denn in Zukunft aus Osteuropa (RUmänien??) und
Asien (Korea, China) kommen?? Immer schön zu hören vom Management wir hätten
zuviele Kapazitäten aber die sind doch teilweise selbst verschuldet und wir
sollen immer die Zeche zahlen, Leute raus aus diesem Unternehmen wer immer
ne Chance hat!!!
Eurer Powertrain Werker
Thanks Mphumzi, we in Europe know that we can count on you and the comrades
from South Africa. See you in June in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In
solidarity, W.
comrades I want to wish you a succussful engagement with management in your negotiations and I know its not going to beeasy but with the collective of all us us we can win this fight .You as EEF you won many fights and thats why I,m convinced that you will win this won.
Forward with Solidarity
Good work! We wait also for the result of the meeting on Tuesday. It is important for all of us.
Rudi, Great start on your involvement in the EEF video outreach! Best of luck at your upcoming meeting. Hopefully your members' current level of solidarity will hold back the axes that chopped apart Delphi in America. If not, I am sure you will be able to win through a co-ordinated European fight back!
Fantastic, Rudi and Wolfgang! Well done!

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