The group, composed of trade union officers and Delphi European Works Council members, unanimously denounced the way in which management announced the imminent closure of its Spanish plant in Puerto Real.
They reject the economic grounds given by management to justify the transfer of production from Puerto Real to low cost countries.
The EMF Trade Union Coordination Group reiterates its full support to the workers in Cadiz. It is determined to develop a strong European strategy with all trade unions with membership in the group and calls on Delphi management:
· To suspend its decision to delocalize production from Puerto Real and to stop dismantling the industrial tool in the plant
· To respect the compromise reached last year with the Andalusian authorities to maintain the plant in activity until 2010 in exchange for a new subvention package of 8.3 million Euro
· To consult without delay the EWC on the planned measure with a view to working with its European employee representatives towards a negotiated and socially acceptable solution for Puerto Real
· To provide appropriate and transparent information to the EWC on its industrial plan to center its activities on core business
· To consult with the EWC in good time on the industrial and social impact of its plan with the aim of working towards viable alternatives for all its European plants and socially acceptable measures
· To suspend all negotiations at local level until a proper consultation has taken place with the EWC.

The EMF Trade Union Coordination Group will secure strong European coordination and prepare for Europe-wide action in the event that Delphi does not respect its commitments. It will address the European Commission and the European Parliament on the threat of seeing a complete industrial tissue relocated outside Europe which would result in the loss of 35.000 jobs in the European Union.

Delphi has to put an end to its unacceptable and irresponsible attitude of accepting huge subsidies from local and national authorities and from the European Union and then deciding unilaterally to relocate these plants to low-cost countries.

“The EMF will not accept that Delphi ignores the right of its European employee representatives to exercise their consultative role as per the EWC directive”, said the General Secretary, Peter Scherrer. He made it clear in the ensuing press conference that faced with the threat to close down all plants in Western Europe the trade unions had reached a clear agreement to work in close solidarity in order to save employment in Europe.

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PRESS 15/2007
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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, Peter Scherrer, General Secretary
Isabelle Barthès, EMF Advisor on Company Policy, + 32 2 2271012