Auto Workers Issues
General Motors to liquidate Saturn brand
By Jerry White, October 2, 2009
After a deal with billionaire auto dealer Roger Penske unraveled, GM announced it would liquidate its Saturn brand, leading to the elimination of 350 dealerships and at least 13,000 jobs.
GM shuts down assembly plant in Pontiac, Michigan
By Jerry White, September 30, 2009
Tuesday was the last day of work for most of the 1,100 workers at the General Motors Pontiac East Assembly Plant, just north of Detroit.
Canadian Auto Workers offers concessions to Ford
By Carl Bronski, September 22, 2009
Negotiations between the Canadian Auto Workers and Ford Motor Company of Canada are set to re-start at the end of September after initial talks between the two broke down earlier this month. The compa...
Britain: Asset stripping followed government bailout of MG Rover
By Jean Shaoul, September 21, 2009
A report into the 2005 collapse of MG Rover, with the loss of 6,500 direct jobs, inadvertently exposes the politically sanctioned looting of social assets that has taken place over the last decades in...
The GM-Magna deal
German metal workers’ union backs government in geostrategic power struggle
By Ulrich Rippert, September 17, 2009
The IG Metall trade union is playing a crucial role in implementing the foreign policy interests of the German government.
With a green light from company trade unions
The Porsche and Piëch clans pillage Volkswagen
By Patrick Richter, September 16, 2009
Volkswagen’s takeover of Porsche is an all-or–nothing gamble with unforeseeable consequences. Only one thing remains certain—the unyielding loyalty of the works councils and German trade unions ...
GM and Opel: the struggle for dominance in the global auto market
By Ulrich Rippert, August 28, 2009
The intensive intervention by the German government on behalf of a Magna takeover of GM-Europe is not merely part of the election campaign being conducted by the various partners in the ruling grand c...
Maneuvers continue in GM-Opel takeover
IG Metall sanctioning destruction of thousands of jobs
By Dietmar Henning, August 13, 2009
Trade union leaders in Germany are refusing to reveal the details of backroom discussions and deals held with potential bidders for GM’s operation in Europe.
Korean unions end Ssangyong occupation on company terms
By Terry Cook, August 7, 2009
The Korean Metal Workers Union called off the occupation at the Ssangyong Motor plant after striking a deal that accepts the mass lay-offs demanded by the management.
South Korea: Violent police operation mounted against Ssangyong auto occupation
By Patrick O’Connor, August 6, 2009
More than 4,000 South Korean riot police, backed by private security and nonunion company goons, have launched a violent assault on more than 500 auto workers at the Ssangyong factory in Pyeongtaek.
Britain: Visteon workers appoint solicitor to investigate pensions rip-off
By Paul Mitchell and Daniel O’Flynn, August 6, 2009
Workers at bankrupt car parts manufacturer Visteon UK have appointed their own solicitor to investigate the rip-off of their pensions, claiming the union Unite has done nothing to help them.
German government contemplates Opel insolvency
By Dietmar Henning, July 30, 2009
The German government is eager to give the impression it is working on a “socially compatible solution” for Opel, but evidence is emerging that the government is intent on allowing the auto compan...
