GM Accused of Blackmail and Intimidation in Opel Case

Opel's workers yesterday protested against GM's decision to scrap a potential sale to Magna International, some of them claiming the German brand has no chance to survive under the US-based manufacturer's ownership. Furthermore, General Motors is now accused of "threats, blackmail and intimidation", as Opel labor leader Klaus Franz said in a report by Reuters, emphasizing that "workers won't contribute a single cent".

German officials showed their anger at the US-based company and said that General Motors might face lots of problems if trying to establish a "massive" job cut, as current rumors are hinting.

"We want Opel to continue to exist," German politician Roland Koch said. "We will have to fight again with the goal of saving jobs."

But GM CEO Fritz Henderson says he is willing to do anything that's possible to reach an agreement with German trade unions but refused to comment on the proposed restructuring plan which, according to some sources, will be submitted soon.

“We have some fence mending and repairs that need to be done. That’s my responsibility and the responsibility of the leadership team and I’m enthusiastic about getting started and doing that,” he was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source.

GM Europe head Carl-Peter Forster said in an interview for the German daily newspaper Bild that General Motors is now working on a plan for Opel but "massive" job cuts are very likely.

"We had negotiated a good restructuring plan which was ready and on the table," he said in the statement. "Now there is a danger that the sensible distribution of the burden we had agreed will unravel and the process will start all over again. One thing is certain: even with this solution, there will be massive cuts."