Representatives of European metalworkers’ unions say they are yet to hear from Opel parent General Motors concerning the future of the threatened plant at Antwerp in Belgium.

Speculation has mounted throughout the day (20 January) that the Opel factory employing 2,300 staff is to shut, although GM has resolutely declined to comment on the rumours.

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“We are waiting for an announcement from the [GM] management so I am not in contact with [Opel/Vauxhall CEO] Nick Reilly,” European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) general secretary Peter Scherrer told just-auto from his headquarters in Brussels.

“We always asked the management to present a proper plan and we know in the last few months we were willing to do our contribution to the recovery of the company.

“So far we were not consulted as the umbrella organisation of the metalworkers’ union in Europe and I am still waiting for that. We wait [to hear from] Mr Reilly.”

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