Autonomy - Main Demand in GM - Opel Unions Talks

General Motors is already working on its restructuring plan for Opel and, in order to reach an agreement with the unions, the US-based manufacturer must be ready to offer greater independence. At least this is what top German labor leader Klaus Franz was quoted as saying by Reuters, while emphasizing that General Motors must be ready to agree with the same terms as proposed to Magna International.

"GM does not enjoy any credibility or faith in the eyes of the public or the (German) government, so they have to consider whether they now want to seek confrontation or cooperation by finding a common solution," Franz told Reuters on Sunday.

"To see whether they are interested in cooperation, we need to know whether they are willing to start off where we last stopped -- namely, the degree of autonomy and freedom that was set in the contract with Magna and accepted by General Motors."

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said that General Motors would have to work hard to get the loan from the local government and meet several requirements, just as Magna did earlier this year.

"Autonomy, no siphoning off money to America, and a sustainable plan for the future," Bruederle said. "At the moment I don't see any of these three criteria being fulfilled."

GM's CEO Fritz Henderson will travel to Germany this week to hold discussions with Opel and German officials.

General Motors announced last week that it will cancel the sale of a 55 percent stake to Magna and Sberbank and will retain possession of the German brand. The company is now negotiating with governments across Europe to obtain the needed funds and start Opel restructuring.