Anger at GM’s Opel U-turn rumbles on

Opel workers in Germany continue to vent their spleen after General Motors announced it was to abandon its plan to sell off its European car-making unit.

Thousands of workers downed tools and descended on Opel’s HQ in the city of Ruesselsheim.

The German government worked hard to lubricate the deal between GM and Canadian car parts maker Magna in order to preserve 25,000 jobs.

Opel has plants in Belgium, Spain and Poland as well as a Vauxhall outlet in the UK.

The decision to kill off the deal after months of talks has angered politicians who now believe GM will take sole responsibility for restructuring Opel.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin described GM’s U-turn on the Opel sale as an example of the generally “scornful” approach of US companies when dealing with Europe.

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tags: Cars, General Motors, Opel