Opel’s main union at the doomed Bochum plant in Germany is pessimistic the site can be rescued following the automaker’s decision to shutter the factory in response to worker rejection of a productivity deal.
It now appears highly likely the factory will close at the end of next year with the possible loss of 3,000 jobs after IG Metall’s union members dismissed an offer to give up a pay increase in exchange for continued Zafira production at Bochum until 2016.
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Opel’s main union at the plant appears riven with internal disagreement however, with the labour body’s senior officials acknowledging there were differing opinions between its members, despite 76% of a 70% turnout voting against the proposals.
“There is disagreement in our members, it is true,” an IG Metall spokesman told just-auto from Germany. “Neumann [Karl-Thomas, Opel CEO] said there is no way for negotiations in April or next month.
“Our situation is very difficult as a union – we need a situation that our members – most of them – say let’s try a new way. It is not good, it is a problem.
“It is not only a question of information, it is a question of feeling. They feel – most of them feel – that by [through] management they can’t be sure the result of the negotiations will also be the result in the next years. There is a problem by [of] emotion of the members.”
It appears Opel’s supervisory board has taken the decision to shutter Bochum after the union members’ hardline stance.
Parent company, General Motors had linked any deal to expanding a logistics centre at Bochum and replacing auto production with parts manufacture after 2016, that would have kept 1,200 of the 3,000 jobs.
But it now seems even union officials are downbeat concerning any movement to improve the situation. “A lot of people say there is no way now,” the IG Metall spokesman said
“We have to wait. Maybe two, three, four weeks and then we can talk again. First, we have to meet our members.”
Opel in Russelsheim was not immediately available for comment.
