Opel: management and unions sign European restructuring plan

Compensatory guarantees for the German sites. According to Klaus Franz, chairman of Opel’s central WC and of the EWC, a majority of Opel’s European trade unions signed, on May 31st, Opel’s restructuring plan. For the time being, the only ones that haven’t signed are the staff representatives at the Bochum factory. However, the union leader said they should do so shortly. The European agreement, the outline of which was already adopted on May 21st, provides for wage concessions amounting to €265 million a year by 2014 from all Opel employees in Europe, including €176.8 million from German employees. On May 21st, the IG-Metall union and Opel’s management announced that they signed a framework agreement (Rahmenvereinbarung) for Opel’s German sites, detailing the concessions made by the employees and the guarantees offered by the management. Thus, the German employees will give up single bonuses and half their Christmas and holiday bonuses. Besides, collectively-agreed wage increases will be postponed. In exchange, the IG-Metall gained satisfaction about some of its claims (see our dispatch No. 100032).