Mexican Media Brands
Unions to French President: Stop GM, PSA Plant Closings
Union leaders in France met with new President Francois Hollande on Tuesday to demand he deliver on his campaign promise to save jobs by immediately halting impending factory shutdowns.
#labor
Share
Union leaders in France met with new President Francois Hollande on Tuesday to demand he deliver on his campaign promise to save jobs by immediately halting impending factory shutdowns.
The CGT union presented a list of companies where jobs are threatened, including General Motors Co. and PSA Peugeot Citroen. GM is trying to find a buyer for its transmission facility in Strasbourg as part of restructuring its European unit. PSA has said it plans to shed 6,000 jobs in Europe this year. The company warns it might downsize high-cost operations in France if its sales don't rebound.
Hollande promised after his election to impose financial penalties on profitable companies that try to boost their share price by dismissing workers. But it may be hard for him to force companies to comply. France's high court ruled early this month that healthy companies can fire workers under some circumstances.
Analysts say government intervention to block auto plant closings is the main reason that carmakers have not eliminated the excess capacity in Europe that is eroding their profits.
RELATED CONTENT
-
GM Unit Stresses Driver Training in Autonomous Cars
General Motors Co.’s Cruise Automation unit says it puts backup drivers and auditors through extensive training before allowing them to participate in real-world autonomous vehicle tests.
-
Japanese Models Top “Most-American” List
The five most “American” models sold in the U.S. in terms of local content and labor all carry Japanese brands, says Cars.com.
-
Young Auto Engineers Say Their Employers Don’t Measure Up
Only one-third of U.S. automotive engineers below the age of 36 agree that their work experience matches the way their employers’ portray themselves publicly, according to new research.