Demonstration against the closure of GM plant in Azambuja
Yesterday more than 2000 workers protested in Lisbon against the recently announced closure of the Portuguese Opel plant in Azambuja. The manifestation was supported by solidarity actions and addresses from all GM Europe plants but also through the presence of Trade Unionists from Spain and Germany. This manifestation is part of a European wide campaign of GM workers and trade unions. Since more than two weeks at all GM Europe sites various forms of solidarity actions, from “information hours” in the plants, public meetings and even warning strikes, workers have showed their commitment to the fight against the closure of GM plants in Europe.
The protestors marched to the Residence of the Portuguese Prime Ministers Jose Socrates. A delegation of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) was spontaneously received by Mr. Artur Penedos, advisor to the Prime Minister on social and industrial affairs. Peter Scherrer, the EMF General Secretary pointed out that the struggle against the closure of the Azambuja plant is of major importance for the European Trade Union movement “Because it is a fight against a completely unacceptable unsocial decision and does in no way meet the standards of the social responsibility multinational companies have. In particular against the background that GM Europe received during the recent years substantial Portuguese public funding for the Azambuja plant. The shop stewards at the Opel plant located 40 km from Lisbon, demanded that management should fulfil the agreement with GM Europe saying that production is guaranteed till 2008 and a new model comes in 2009. Under this condition the subsidies of 40 million € have been given the European unit of the world’s largest automobile producer.
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PRESS 19/2006
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
For further information please contact:
Editor, Bart Samyn, EMF Deputy General Secretary
Isabelle Barthès, EMF Advisor on Company Policy + 32 2 227 1012
