German Opel Workers Feel Betrayed, Announce GM Protests

Opel's German workers are far from being happy with GM's decision to cancel the sale to Magna International. Some of them feel betrayed, while others are already planning protests against the US-based car manufacturer, mostly after more and more rumors about massive costs started surfacing. Opel labor leader Klaus Franz said the first protests might take place today, but there's nothing confirmed at this point.

"How can a company that is insolvent decide not to sell?" Anke Rezac, 35-year-old, told Reuters in an interview after hearing GM's decision. "I don't think that GM can hold on to Opel. They are just playing for time."

"I can only say that in GM's executive offices in America sit the biggest liars that the world has ever seen," another Opel worker added.

However, some Opel workers, a tiny part to be more precise, support General Motors and think that keeping the company under its possession might be a good solution after all but called for a few changes.

"If I were GM, I would also hold onto Opel," Opel worker Wolfgang Kruemmel, 64, told Reuters outside the Ruesselsheim plant. "But all this back and forth has massively hurt confidence in our American partners. It's very important that GM takes steps to rebuild trust, otherwise the best workers will leave."

If we are to trust the recent rumors, General Motors might cut around 10,000 jobs at Opel, almost the same as Magna International, the Canadian - Austrian partsmaker credited with the biggest chances to buy the company. However, GM will submit a proposal soon, so more details are still expected.