Opel workers protest for fifth day over jobs

General Motors (GM) management started talks with union leaders today over up to 12,000 planned job cuts in Europe as workers…

General Motors (GM) management started talks with union leaders today over up to 12,000 planned job cuts in Europe as workers at a plant in Bochum, Germany, refused to work for a fifth day running.

The talks at German unit Adam Opel's headquarters in Ruesselsheim are aimed at finding some common ground on how GM can save €500 million ($623.8 million) a year at its European operations, which have not made a profit since 1999.

The world's biggest carmaker said last week it may cut its 63,000-strong European workforce by nearly a fifth to get the cost savings it needs to address chronic overcapacity and intense price pressure in sluggish car markets.

Most of the cuts target high-cost Germany, home to the world's best-paid car workers.

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An Opel spokesman said the talks had begun but he gave no more details.

Officials have warned not to expect a quick deal.

Staff reporting for the early shift at the Opel plant in the heavily industrialised Ruhr region city of Bochum voted not to resume work, extending a stoppage that began late on Thursday in protest at the carmaker's job-cut plans, a union official said.

About 4,000 people are in danger of losing their jobs in both the Bochum and Ruesselsheim plants, union sources say.