Branding the plan “unjustified and barbarous,” Spanish unions have scheduled several demonstrations against Nissan’s plan to axe 1,680 workers in Spain.
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In a statement on Wednesday, top Spanish union UGT said workers would demonstrate tomorrow in Barcelona and protest outside the main Zona Franca and Montcada, (Barcelona) facilities on Friday.
Unions hope that some 4,500 workers will take to Barcelona’s city centre to decry the measure.
“We don’t dismiss the idea of strikes if Nissan does not negotiate a fairer agreement,” said a union official.
Yesterday, Nissan said the cuts were needed to compensate for major losses in Europe stemming from falling sales of the Barcelona-made Pathfinder and X-83 models.
Under the plan, the country’s biggest since 1993, Nissan will cut 27.5% of its 6,100-strong workforce amid other measures to boost efficiencies. It will make 130,000 vehicles in 2008 compared with 193,000 in 2007.
Volume next year will decline to 110,000 units, said the union official told just-auto. Work schedules will also be changed to two daily shifts from three.
Spanish car sales are plummeting amid a deep economic recession, falling 41% year on year in August.
Ford and General Motors plan to cut 1,300 workers and 600 workers respectively to survive the crisis. Seat will also slash output by 300 vehicles daily.
Ivan Castano Freeman
