Future for Antwerp - success!

Solidarity with Antwerp!

Everyone awaits the official media statements from the unions involved. For some, the waiting can be quite painful. We must all wait for the unions because right now they are getting their negotiation summary information packages ready for the membership meeting. Members that attend to vote will be provided with the information.

Often at these meetings there are many members who are still too excited to appreciate the materials presented. Many months later, these same individuals understand the impact of the package language as those provisions are triggered. That's when they cry out that the changes being implemented were not made clear before the vote.

To minimize the problem described above, impatient members should try and slow down, and listen closely to your calmer, fellow members. When at the meeting try to focus on the language within the package. Make every effort to understand what is being presented. That way you will be able to make a more informed decision.

Here is a news article about the scheduled meeting and vote.



Striking GM Opel workers to vote Thursday
Wed May 9, 2007 12:12 AM BST

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Workers at General Motors' Opel <GM.N> plant will vote on Thursday whether to accept an offer to end their strike, a union official said on Tuesday.

"People will express their votes on Thursday morning and we'll see what the results will be," said Walter Cnop, president of Belgium's Christian ACV-CSC union.

He said a meeting with striking workers on Tuesday evening had been informational, but did not mean an end to the strike. Two more informational meetings were set for Wednesday morning and afternoon for workers on other shifts, he said.

Earlier, another union official indicated the strike might end as soon as Tuesday.

Workers walked out in protest against a decision by GM not to build the next-generation Astra model in Belgium, as well as plans to cut 1,400 jobs in the plant in Antwerp, about a third of the work force, this year.

But on Tuesday, GM Europe offered a deal that may secure enough production to make the plant viable.

GM Europe said it planned to produce two models of a new generation vehicle for the European market, with annual production of 120,000 vehicles.

It said it would also look at opportunities for additional models, "assuming the ongoing competitiveness of the plant."

The Astra is GM's top model in Europe with nearly half a million sold last year.

GM's decision not to produce the new Astra in Belgium was another blow to the country's auto industry after Volkswagen AG <VOWG.DE> said last year it would cut its work force in Brussels to 1,500 from over 5,000.

Europe's largest carmaker eventually offered the plant the prospect of building the new Audi A1, securing 2,200 jobs, but only after workers had accepted longer hours for the same pay.

I hope the management learned the lesson. Now the EEF and the GME management should agree on a European future contract for all GME plants (including component and powertrain plants)that guarantees the future for all plants. The EEF has to insist on such an agreement now. The Antwerp case showed that we can't rely on some vague promises of the Management. Management showed that you can't trust them. A juridical binding contract is needed. If Management is not willing to negotiate such a contract the workers all over Europe have to act jointly again.