Pan-European trade unions are bemoaning a lack of information and participation in the proposed alliance between PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors.
Labour representatives across the Continent met in Brussels today (18 April) including unions from PSA and GM, as well as Opel/Vauxhall with the event organised through the auspices of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF).
“We had an exchange of information – from GM Opel/Vauxhall then participants [from] Poland, Spain, Germany, the UK and France of course – they were all here today,” EMF PSA GM Opel Vauxhall policy adviser, Ralf Goetz told just-auto from Brussels.
“We came to the conclusion we have of course a lack of information about the actual content of the alliance and a lack of participation in debates and developments. This was the main complaint. We concluded we needed further co-ordination. We see a threat for the development of these two companies and we don’t see where this [agreement] is heading.”
The EMF policy adviser conceded trade unions were ‘nervous,’ particularly as some joint projects appeared to be taking place, citing logistics and purchasing among them
“What we did today is more or less found the steering committee to accompany the [other] steering committees that are going on on the employers’ side,” said Goetz. “It is one of our demands – that we are involved in the planning of that.
“We put the declaration on the table today and we will see further studies.”
PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors, which have already confirmed they will cooperate on B and D segment cars as well as a crossover and minivan, could expand their agreement to cover a small car for emerging markets as well as larger vehicles and transmissions.
