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- Gruppenbild mit RAK 2: Junge Gewerkschafter treffen den Opel-Vorstand zum Meinungsaustausch in der Rüsselsheimer Oldtimer-Werkstatt.
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- Ziel der jungen Gewerkschafter ist es, die Arbeit des europäischen Jugendnetzwerkes weiterzuführen und ein europäisches Austauschprogramm für Opel/Vauxhall-Azubis umzusetzen.
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- Auch Opel-Chef Karl-Thomas Neumann gehörte zu den Gesprächspartnern. „Der Gedankenaustausch über Ländergrenzen hinweg ist integraler Bestandteil unserer Unternehmenskultur“, stellte er nach dem Treffen fest. „Daher freue ich mich über das Engagement dieser jungen Gewerkschafter.“
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- EBR-Vorsitzender Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug (hinten rechts) freute sich über die intensive Diskussion: „Die jungen Kollegen bringen frischen Wind in das Unternehmen und die Gewerkschaftsarbeit an den europäischen Standorten.“
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- Niki Tailor (rechts) aus Luton sagt: „Wir engagieren uns dafür, dass die Aus- und Weiterbildung im gesamten Konzerngefüge einheitliche Standards erhält.“
Which screws can you turn to influence the situation of young workers – generally, in their respective countries, but also in relation to each site of the company? This is the question the protagonists of the first European Youth Network Week of Opel/Vauxhall have dealt with a few days ago. In Rüsselsheim young, active union employees from Luton, Ellesmere Port, Zaragoza and Vienna-Aspern came together with trainee representatives from all German plants. On the margins of the Europe Youth Network Opel Post met with the union members in the Opel Classic Hall and talked with them about their goals – and what moves them. Each of the respondents was photographed next to his favorite Opel.
Question:
Why are you committed in trade union work?
What are your goals within the company?
LORENA RODENAS-MARTINEZ, 21
RÜSSELSHEIM
Industrial management assistant
Answer: “As a child I could not stand injustice and inequality. Hence, I’m very idealistic. I want to ensure that people are always treated fairly. Viewed in perspective, our goal is that all workers under age 30 can expect a permanent employment contract. The company management has taken notice of us and they responded to our ideas. The fact that they support our meeting here, also proves that the basis has been created, now we want to interchange constantly in the future.”
MARIAN ROZSA, 22
VIENNA-ASPERN
ELECTRIC OPERATION TECHNICIAN
Answer: “I was born and raised in Romania. So I know how it is when you try to find your way under, let’s say, not so good circumstances. At Opel, I realized: Here are people who strengthen me and beck me up as well as the 75 young colleagues. What we work for is, among other things, that colleagues can be released regularly by companies and vocational schools, when there is a staff outing or a sport event – we try to convince everyone involved. We move some issues forward and get support from the company. For example, we have received some days off during the traditional sports and educational week which we tackle as a ski trip.”
DARIO VAL CENTRO, 21
ZARAGOZA
ELECTRICAL FITTER
Answer: “The living and working situation of many young people, particularly in southern Europe, is partly in a state of disrepair. To change it, or at least working on it – this is somehow a great feeling. In the plant it concerns the interests of around 300 young colleagues, the now-state, but also their future. In both cases we want to achieve the optimum as trade unionist.”
NIKITA TAILOR, 19
LUTON
ELECTRICIAN
Answer: “Before my time at Vauxhall I joined the union Unite the Union, because I can’t generally stand the feeling of powerlessness. And because the job determines a large part of our everyday lives, I want to be prepared here. We are committed to ensure that the education and training throughout the group will develop uniform standards. Around 30 colleagues who are younger than 26 years work at our factory. Things are on the move here, we are on the right track.”
The European Youth Week was organized by the Opel European Works Council and the IG Metall – together with the partner unions from England, Spain and Austria. The Adam Opel AG supported the initiative. Financial support for the project was funded by the European Union.
The week in Rüsselsheim included numerous program points. The young trade unionists visited the apprentice studio, the Opel Classic Hall and sat in workshops with the living and working conditions of both, the young generation in Europe as well as the junior employees at Opel/Vauxhall. They exchanged views with the Opel European Works Council.
The goal of the young unionists is to continue the work of European Youth Network with colleagues from Hungary and Poland and to implement a European exchange program for Opel/Vauxhall trainees.