<div id="subtitle">German union says Opel's planned closure of Belgian plant is a "declaration of war" on workers</div><div><p>Employee representatives at General Motors Co.'s Opel unit on Friday slammed the automaker's announcement it would cut 8,300 jobs and close its plant in Belgium as a "declaration of war" on European workers.</p><p>Armin Schild, head of the IG Metall union in Frankfurt and a member of Opel's board, criticized GM for lacking a clear and thoroughly financed restructuring concept, the DAPD news agency reported.</p><p>"Now, GM is apparently off on the next horror trip," Schild said.</p><p>He criticized GM for mismanaging the company for 15 years and called the planned closure of the site in Antwerp, Belgium, "a declaration of war against all European Opel employees."</p><p>Opel CEO Nick Reilly announced on Thursday that the company will cut 8,300 jobs across Europe, including 4,000 in Germany, and close the plant in Antwerp — casualties of the "tough reality" of a shrinking European auto market.</p><p>The head of the workers council at Opel's plant in the western German city of Bochum, Rainer Einenkel, said he feared further plant closures and job cuts.</p><p>"The worst is not over," he told German broadcaster WDR.</p><p>Representatives from Opel's European work councils and unions are to meet on Tuesday in Antwerp, Einenkel told DAPD.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67517374&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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