Communist Party of Australia

On February 26 the employees of General Motors Europe demonstrated their determination to secure a reliable future perspective for their jobs and their company. Workers mobilised at all Opel, Saab and Vauxhall sites in Europe to take part in the coordinated Action Day.

The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) stated it fully supported their actions and demands.

The EMF said the success of the action showed that long-standing trade union coordination, which includes trade unions and workers’ representatives from all European countries concerned, has huge added value for concerted action and policy within multinational companies.

“It is indeed paramount in the current crisis that a Europe-wide coordinated strategy be followed,” said an EMF statement. “General Motors Europe, with the European Employees Forum, is just one example of this strategy and the ways this can pay off. European Works Councils are furthermore extremely important bodies for making European social policy work.

“It is now up to the company management and governments to do their part of the work. A coordinated action plan, avoiding protectionist attitudes, has to be put together. Regional authorities will also have an important role to play in finding a solution for Opel, Saab and Vauxhall.

“What is needed is a concerted solution, a coherent solution for all the regions involved,” said Peter Scherrer, EMF general secretary. “A short-sighted initiative, following the protectionist push we have seen over the past few weeks, will not improve the situation for the companies and the workers.

“It is in times of crisis that Europe must show that it is able to stand together. Today, the workers of General Motors Europe have shown the way forward. Governments and politicians now have to follow that path instead of looking for easy and populist national solutions.”

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