Negotiations at Opel Continue
October 21, 2004
The assembly lines were switched back on around 3 p.m. local time Wednesday.
In a secret ballot of the plant's workers, more than 4,600 of the 6,400 ballots handed back were in support of further negotiations with the management, and a return to work, Bochum's works council chief Dietmar Hahn said.
The move met with widespread relief.
"We're happy that another step has been taken in the right direction," said Klaus Hemmerling, a member of GM Europe's works council at a news conference.
Difficulties ahead
Negotiations between management and the works council to secure the 10,000 jobs threatened in Germany are set to resume Thursday.
"We would like to thank everyone for the decision reached today and look forward with confidence to working together with the employees' councils and the Bochum workforce," said a statement released by Opel's management in Rüsselsheim.
Dietmar Hahn also welcomed the outcome of the vote but predicted difficulties ahead. Further work stoppages haven't been ruled out.
Some Opel workers have reacted angrily to the secret ballot, because the way the question was formulated, voting to continue the strike would have also meant voting against further negotiations.
The strike action meant that some 6,500 cars were not completed. Opel has so far refused to comment on how much money was lost during the strike.