Belgian trade unions have done all they could to rescue Opel plant

Belgian Opel workers and trade unionists together with colleagues from other European countries gathered in Antwerp on Wednesday to demonstrate against the closure of the local Opel plant. The daily De Morgen praises the trade unions for this time refraining from adopting their customary stubborn and aggressive stance: "Today they have decided in favour of working out a plan together and negotiations as the only realistic option for keeping [the plant in] Antwerp open. … The metal workers' trade unions could long ago have decided to accept the threatened closure - helped along by early pensions and big severance packages. But with great will power … they are playing their last trump card to keep Antwerp operating. Given the circumstances this is not an unintelligent move, and they are showing understanding for the political and economic arguments. … Otherwise the Antwerp chapter would have been closed long ago. Even if they don't achieve their goal the metal trade unions will have everything in their power, and far beyond."

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Social movements, » Economic Policy, » Trade unions, » Belgium
All available articles from » Walter Pauli

» To the complete press review of Thursday, September 24, 2009