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Opel U-turn sparks German strikes Opel U-turn sparks German strikes
(41 minutes later)
Opel workers in Germany are attending a mass rally outside US parent company General Motors' (GM) headquarters.Opel workers in Germany are attending a mass rally outside US parent company General Motors' (GM) headquarters.
Thousands of the 25,000 workers from Opel's four factories are gathered in Ruesselsheim to protest at GM's refusal to sell its European operations.Thousands of the 25,000 workers from Opel's four factories are gathered in Ruesselsheim to protest at GM's refusal to sell its European operations.
GM's U-turn came just days before the agreed sale of a majority stake in Opel and Vauxhall to car parts maker Magna and Russian bank Sberbank.GM's U-turn came just days before the agreed sale of a majority stake in Opel and Vauxhall to car parts maker Magna and Russian bank Sberbank.
Under that agreement, Opel workers were promised no factories would be closed.Under that agreement, Opel workers were promised no factories would be closed.
'Starting over''Starting over'
The IG Metall union now fears GM will close plants in Germany and cut more jobs than Magna would have.The IG Metall union now fears GM will close plants in Germany and cut more jobs than Magna would have.
"Our trust [in GM] is now zero, and that is the heart of the problem," Klaus Franz, the head of Opel's employee council, told thousands of workers, to applause."Our trust [in GM] is now zero, and that is the heart of the problem," Klaus Franz, the head of Opel's employee council, told thousands of workers, to applause.
And he called on GM to come up with a workable plan for the carmaker.And he called on GM to come up with a workable plan for the carmaker.
"We are starting over again from zero," he said."We are starting over again from zero," he said.
GM has said it plans to cut some 10,000 jobs as part of a restructuring of its European operations, though it has not yet said anything about where the cuts will come and it has not commented on whether or not factories will be closed down.GM has said it plans to cut some 10,000 jobs as part of a restructuring of its European operations, though it has not yet said anything about where the cuts will come and it has not commented on whether or not factories will be closed down.
However, GM has said that its plan is similar, though not identical, to the one hammered out with Magna and Sberbank.However, GM has said that its plan is similar, though not identical, to the one hammered out with Magna and Sberbank.
'Defending workers''Defending workers'
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticised GM's decision to pull the plug on the Magna deal, but said his government would still support the US carmaker's projects in Russia. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticised GM's decision to pull the plug on the Magna-Sberbank deal, but said his government would still support the US carmaker's projects in Russia.
German workers were less forgiving. "The last-minute refusal to close this deal certainly does not harm our interests, but reveals our American partners' somewhat peculiar culture of communication with their counterparts," he drily observed.
But German workers were less sanguine.
"They led us all around by our noses," said Michael Kleinmann, a worker at the Opel plant in Ruesselsheim. "They're not interested in the fate of individuals.""They led us all around by our noses," said Michael Kleinmann, a worker at the Opel plant in Ruesselsheim. "They're not interested in the fate of individuals."
Workers say faith in GM is at "zero"Workers say faith in GM is at "zero"
However, workers in the UK and Poland have welcomed GM's decision.However, workers in the UK and Poland have welcomed GM's decision.
"The future is still uncertain, but our fear is smaller," said Miroslaw Rzezniczek, a Solidarity union official at the Gliwice plant in Poland."The future is still uncertain, but our fear is smaller," said Miroslaw Rzezniczek, a Solidarity union official at the Gliwice plant in Poland.
John Featherstone, a Unite union official at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant in the UK, said: "I am pleased we will be dealing with GM because we know them and we understand their culture - and they know us."John Featherstone, a Unite union official at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant in the UK, said: "I am pleased we will be dealing with GM because we know them and we understand their culture - and they know us."


Are you an Opel employee? Are you concerned about your job? What's your reaction to the latest developments?Are you an Opel employee? Are you concerned about your job? What's your reaction to the latest developments?
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