South African Union Takes GM Unit To Court Over Job Cuts
11 Juni 2009 - 1:15PM
Dow Jones News
South Africa's metal workers' union Thursday said it is taking
the local arm of General Motors Corp. (GM) to the country's Labour
Court to force it to rehire workers laid off since April.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa said it also
wanted a moratorium on any further cuts and warned other car
companies including Ford Motor Co. (F) and Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE)
against what it said was similar "unilateral" action and a
"psychopathic attitude to workers."
GM South Africa early this month said it wouldn't be affected by
the bankruptcy filing of its parent company, but the union said the
firm has since announced it will season manufacturing its Hummer
vehicles in Port Elizabeth.
GM South Africa has cut more than 1,300 jobs since 2007, the
union said.
"Reasonably, we are starting in the Labour Court of Johannesburg
today (Thursday) to seek relief," NUMSA said.
-By Robb M. Stewart, Dow Jones Newswires; +27 11 783 7848;
robb.stewart@dowjones.com