NedCar workers put strike on hold

UPDATED 12 April 2006

AMSTERDAM — Unions have put their threat of a strike at NedCar on hold in favour of a rally in The Hague on Thursday to pressure the government to support the only large-scale car producer in the Netherlands.

NedCar managers held talks with Mitsubishi executives all day Tuesday about the future of the car assembly firm but no concrete deal was agreed. Based in the Dutch town of Born, NedCar started in August 1991 as a joint venture between Mitsubishi, Volvo and the Dutch State. It is currently 100 percent owned by Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi made one key concession by agreeing NedCar can approach other car companies to find a replacement for the Smart ForFour.

The unions hope Thursday’s demonstration in The Hague will force the government to step in and help broker an agreement.

The mood among NedCar workers hardened following Mitsubishi’s decision to reduce work at the plant from two shifts to one. This will result in the loss of 1,000 jobs.

Only four of the almost 3,000 workers voted on Monday against taking strike action amid fears Mitsubishi is withdrawing support for the plant.

The Japanese car company ordered managers at NedCar to downsize after DaimlerChrysler announced it is discontinuing production of its ForFour model of Start car which is assembled at Born. The loss of the ForFour leaves NedCar with only Mitsubishi’s Colt model.

The union is demanding Mitsubishi find a replacement for the ForFour and guarantee that work on the successor to the Colt comes to Born. Last week, Mitsubishi sent additional trucks to NedCar to remove its entire stock of finished Colts after the workers threatened to prevent the cars leaving the factory.

Subject: Dutch news