40,000 European car work- ment," declared the EMF's ers staged protests against General Secretary, Reinhard plans by General Motors to Kuhlmann, addressing the slash jobs across the region 7.000 workers assembled as part of a European Day of at the Opel AG plant in Action on January 25. Rüsselsheim, Germany.
This huge show of strength What remains a concern and solidarity with workers despite these protests is in Luton facing the closure that many see their goal priof their plant represents marily as giving added over a third of GM's weight to the European European workforce: The Works Council negotiating walkout took a 12 per cent team in its talks with GM bite out of GM's daily management in Zurich. European vehicle output, While pressure on manwith only 7,450 of the usual agement is not a bad idea in 8,500 autos rolling off itself, the illusion that a corassembly lines. poration like GM would back This is one of the first down because industrial pieces of pan-European action has cost them 1,050 industrial action, which gives cars is far from the truth. it a political significance An occupation at Luton as which outstrips the loss in soon as the closure was production, caused mainly announced would have been by hour-long walk outs in the strongest response the plants across the continent. workforce could have made.
The European Taking over the plant when Metalworkers' Federation the workforce returned after (EMF) statement, issued on the Christmas shutdown the dav of action renorted would have acted as a clear that 16,000 workers in focus for other action. Even Germany, 7,000 in Belgium, now, occupation remains 11,000 in the UK (Luton the strongest tactic in the and Ellesmere Port), 1,000 workers' armoury. in Portugal and 5,000 in As the ballot starts here in Spain all took part Britain, a huge campaign In Britain Luton shut down neers to he mounted bv for the day, while at militants for the biggest posEllesmere Port the workers sible ves vote. struck for half a day. At the Without industrial action of Merseyside plant it is clear either occunation or strike that the majority see the at Luton, the solidarity campaign that made such a proposed closure at Luton as making their own situa- promising start on January tion extremely vulnerable 25 will dissipate. With a "Any plant in Europe could lead from Luton, workers itself be the next one across Europe have shown affected," said spokesman they are ready to follow the Guenter Lorenz for the lead. German engineering union With thanks for information IG Metali, calling for workers to: across the continent to www.savevauxhalljobs.org.uk down tools in solidarity. website which carries many "This striking example of other details about the fight European solidarity cannot to save jobs in Luton. fail to impress GM manageplethora of local worthies including local new Labour MP, Margaret Moran.
She faces a general election challenge from Joe Hearne, a local fire-fighter, who is the Bedfordshire Socialist Alliance's prospective candidate in Luton South.
Even the local Tory MP, Sir David Madel addressed the rally, though happily many workers from the plant booed his speech.
It was clear however that Tony Woodley's previous plea for unity was geared to keeping people like Madel board. The "unity" he and the rest of the union bureaucracy want is unity to in December in response to the closure announcement in mid-December Navr have already begun to dissipate.
Offers of jobs elsewhere or redundancy packages which can seem generous it the alternative might be the dole queue have their effect, especially when the leadership have dragged the start of the ballot out for all these weeks.
While the signs are better than they WelC Longbridge or Dagenham, given the successful European day of action, occupation remains the best way to undermine the power of the bosses.
Vote yes in the ballot -occupy Vauxhall now!