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GM, Employees to Discuss Opel Job Cuts on Wednesday

General Motors will meet with Opel union representatives on Wednesday to discuss the proposed restructuring plan. The US-based manufacturer is believed to eliminate around 10,000 jobs in Europe, almost the same amount as Magna International, the Canadian - Austrian partsmaker that was once in pole-position to purchase Opel. Unions previously agreed with Magna's proposal and are ready to make the same offer to General Motors, Reuters noted.

"It's of crucial importance to us that there is a complete financing until 2014. We do not want at all to find ourselves in the situation that they cancel once again (investments in) models and new development work,"
Lothar Sorger, Opel's deputy labor leader in Kaiserslautern, Germany, commented on the subject.

GM will also hold meetings with EU representatives and officials of the countries that are hosting Opel factories, in a move meant to clarify the state aid the US manufacturer might receive for Opel's reorganization. Still, the EU Commission has warned countries participating to the negotiations to avoid outbidding each other as part of their efforts to preserve job cuts.

Nick Reilly, Opel and Vauxhall CEO, said in a statement that GM intends to reduce production capacity by 20 to 25 percent.

"We are still finalizing the details on the plan, and that is why next week I will be back in Brussels, meeting with EU representatives as well as governmental officials from the five countries where we have plants," he said.

"Time is not on our side. I cannot make excuses for things done in the past, but we can move forward. I intend to present by mid-December a sustainable plan that is in the best interest of Opel and Vauxhall; one with clearly defined, achievable results."
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
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Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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