Reuters: Protests to hit GM plants in Germany, Spain -source

[SobeSVT]

Protests to hit GM plants in Germany, Spain -source
Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:30am ET

FRANKFURT, June 16 (Reuters) - Workers angered by General Motors' (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) plan to shut down an assembly plant in Portugal will stage protests starting next week at GM factories in Germany and Spain, a labour source told Reuters on Friday.

"There will be enormous disruptions to production. This could hurt GM," the source said, asking not to be named before a formal announcement on Monday about the industrial action.

He said work stoppages could even jeopardise the launch later this year of the key Opel Corsa subcompact model, which the world's biggest carmaker is counting on to boost sales and income.

Workers at the Azambuja assembly plant in Portugal walked out again on Friday to vent their fury over the carmaker's intention to close their factory.

GM says building Combo delivery vans there costs 500 euros ($633) more per vehicle than at other potential manufacturing sites and told workers on Wednesday it was closing the plant and shifting production to Zaragoza in Spain.

It later suspended the decision at the request of the Portuguese government to give workers one last chance to propose efficiency steps, but GM has stressed how difficult it will be to close a productivity gap of that size.

Labour leaders accuse GM of plucking the 500 euro number from thin air to justify closing the plant as part of a campaign to scale back manufacturing in western Europe and move eastward, where costs are far lower.

The plant about 50 km (30 miles) northeast of Lisbon employs around 1,100 staff.

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[zl-1]

GM said they'll announce a decision in 5 weeks. I still think the Portuguese factory is going down, and I have a feeling 2 or 3 more GM Europe plants will follow.

[mbukukanyau]

I wonder how Euros think they can keep their high wages when they compete aganist low wage Russians, koreans, Africans, Indians and Chinese.
Just like UAW..

[DenCo]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

I wonder how Euros think they can keep their high wages when they compete aganist low wage Russians, koreans, Africans, Indians and Chinese.
Just like UAW..

But are we all supposed to drop to third-world like ways of living, just so the corps can make millions in profit?

[civilzues]

Originally Posted by DenCo

But are we all supposed to drop to third-world like ways of living, just so the corps can make millions in profit?

you mean stay alive!

[Aromanances]

Originally Posted by DenCo

But are we all supposed to drop to third-world like ways of living, just so the corps can make millions in profit?

If the corps don't make profits then they can't pay anyone! The socialists don't get it.


Also those millions get put into developing new modern cars. Otherwise you get a car like the Trablant.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by DenCo

But are we all supposed to drop to third-world like ways of living, just so the corps can make millions in profit?

No, You are just supposed to use your brainiacs to find more efficient ways of producing stuff to compete..
However, most of us are just trying to preserve a WW I status Quo in business, while our very existance and way of life is at stake..
see the problem?

Originally Posted by Aromanances

If the corps don't make profits then they can't pay anyone! The socialists don't get it.


Also those millions get put into developing new modern cars. Otherwise you get a car like the Trablant.

Our way of life is dependent on two things, Profitable business, efficiency, and sustainable population growth.. Things that our socialists oppose..

Why Should GM produce Cars in Portugal, while it can produce the same Cheaper in south Africa or Russia? Do you think its by mistake that H3’s sold in Europe are produced in south Africa and Russia?

[2648562]

No wonder they're protesting. What the heck is $500 to GM?

[Wezzeles]

what is 500 dollars to the potential customer?

[hunchman]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

No, You are just supposed to use your brainiacs to find more efficient ways of producing stuff to compete..
However, most of us are just trying to preserve a WW I status Quo in business, while our very existance and way of life is at stake..
see the problem?


Our way of life is dependent on two things, Profitable business, efficiency, and sustainable population growth.. Things that our socialists oppose..

Why Should GM produce Cars in Portugal, while it can produce the same Cheaper in south Africa or Russia? Do you think its by mistake that H3’s sold in Europe are produced in south Africa and Russia?

.........the global economy crap.................."profitable business " spells greed.........that's all that interests a corporation..........it's sickening to see how many buy into this while people suffer for profits.............I say stick it to the corporations and I mean ALL of them not just gm...................a wake up call is needed

[2648562]

Originally Posted by Wezzeles

what is 500 dollars to the potential customer?

What do you think would happen if the NY Yankees announced they were going to play all their home games from now on in Seattle in order to make more money? Do you think the people of NY would be thrilled about it and support their decision? Or do you think a lot of them would be irate, root against the Yankees, and support another team like the Mets?

[civilzues]

Originally Posted by 2648562

What do you think would happen if the NY Yankees announced they were going to play all their home games from now on in Seattle in order to make more money? Do you think the people of NY would be thrilled about it and support their decision? Or do you think a lot of them would be irate, root against the Yankees, and support another team like the Mets?

if they had TO in order to stay in business, then i think people would

[steverino]

Originally Posted by hunchman

.........the global economy crap.................."profitable business " spells greed.........that's all that interests a corporation..........it's sickening to see how many buy into this while people suffer for profits.............I say stick it to the corporations and I mean ALL of them not just gm...................a wake up call is needed

Invest in stocks. Become an owner & not just a worker. It's the American way.

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

I wonder how Euros think they can keep their high wages when they compete aganist low wage Russians, koreans, Africans, Indians and Chinese.
Just like UAW..

Thank God GM has no Frenchie plants they plan on shuttering. Weeks or months of riots.
I'm sure the folks who have no trouble with crowd control are watching formerly-great Europe carefully.

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by 2648562

What do you think would happen if the NY Yankees announced they were going to play all their home games from now on in Seattle in order to make more money? Do you think the people of NY would be thrilled about it and support their decision? Or do you think a lot of them would be irate, root against the Yankees, and support another team like the Mets?

I think they'd be called the Seattle Yankees. What this has to do with the price of rice I'm missing.