Belgian Union Continues Legal Action Against Opel

Just as we told you some time ago, Belgian Opel unions are suing General Motors for its decision to close the Antwerp plant. And even thought Opel's owner tried to explain that it was only a matter of plans - and no contract was signed, workers are going further with their legal action and hope to convince General Motors to keep the plant open.

The European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) met Opel CEO Nick Reilly on Monday to discuss the Antewerp closure, just-auto.com reported.

"Nick Reilly is saying the SUV never was a contract - we say it was a legal binding contract otherwise what is the point in signing any deal?" EMF company policy director Tony Murphy told the aforementioned source. "The SUV was allocated, it was on the back of cost savings introduced by the workforce during the past two years. They feel betrayed. This is now going through the legal system."

A Belgian spokeswoman of Opel confirmed that a lawsuit is currently in progress but refused to provide more details.

"There is a legal proceeding going on, but I can't comment on the content," she said. "At that time, they [Opel] confirmed a plan to produce a small SUV but unfortunately the plan in its totality cannot be implemented."

Nick Reilly emphasized in a statement after a meeting with the company's European Employee representatives that General Motors hasn't signed a contract for building an SUV in Belgium, so the lawsuit has no legal basis.

"Frequent repetition of the claim that the company was allegedly in breach of a contract does not make that claim any more true. This document clearly spelled out that building a small SUV in Antwerp was a plan. Given the dramatic change in the overall economy this plan had to be changed."