Metalworkers at a GM facility in Brazil have gone on strike in protest of recent layoffs. Workers at three facilities in the state of Sao Paulo were notified this weekend of the impending dismissals, although GM has declined to specify how many workers would be laid off. General Motors has said that the layoffs are required to maintain operational agility.
According to the Sindicato dos Metalurgicos labor union, workers at the GM Sao Jose dos Campos facility confirmed the strike approval yesterday, with three shifts voting in favor of the walkouts. Union workers say that production will be halted until the recent job cuts are canceled and job stability is guaranteed.
General Motors recently moved to implement layoffs at three factories in Sao Paulo, including the Sao Jose dos Campos facility, the Sao Caetano do Sul facility, and the Mogi das Cruzes facility. The union states that dismissals were announced via telegrams and emails this past Saturday, October 21th, without prior negotiations with the associated unions.
The union argues that this past June, General Motors signed a suspension of employment agreement with the Sao Jose dos Campos Metalworkers Union that guarantees job stability for all employees until May of the 2024 calendar year. General Motors employees roughly 4,000 workers at the Sao Jose dos Campos facility.
The union is now demanding that the layoffs are reversed.
“In addition to breaking the layoff agreement, GM failed to comply with legislation that requires companies to open negotiations with the category’s union before carrying out mass layoffs,” Sindicato dos Metalurgicos writes in a statement, as translated by Google.
The Sao Jose dos Campos facility produces transmissions, engines, the Chevy S-10 and the Chevy TrailBlazer. The facility produces an estimated 150 vehicles per day. Meanwhile, General Motors confirmed the recent round of layoffs, issuing the following statement:
“We understand the impact this decision might have on people’s lives, but the move is necessary and will allow the company to maintain the agility of its operations,” the automaker said.
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Comment
Do employees not get that they are just employees? In most cases, they do not own the company/business or whatever, & when the company decides to hire or fire or lay off, that is their decisions. If everyone ever hired had permanent jobs, even more companies would close their doors due to being unable to manage their workforce. When employees do stuff like this, if the company chooses not to close the plant then they should keep a list of those employees that are clearly not dependable, & get rid of them when the occasion arises.