GERMANY: Mercedes employees in Germany react to parent company DaimlerChrysler's decision to shed 13,000 jobs in the U.S.
- 00:01:25
- ITN Source
GERMANY: Mercedes employees in Germany react to parent company DaimlerChrysler's decision to shed 13,000 jobs in the U.S.
Mercedes employees at Stuttgart's DaimlerChrysler plant expressed relief, sympathy and some anger following their company's announcement to lay off 13,000 jobs in the United States. DaimlerChrysler said on Wednesday (February 14) it would cut 13,000 jobs at its Chrysler operation in North America and indicated it could sell or spin off the money-losing unit, which would unwind a troubled 9-year-old merger between Chrysler and Mercedes. The announcement -- the biggest shake-up of the group since Germany's Daimler-Benz AG and Chrysler Corp joined forces in 1998 -- sent DaimlerChrysler's share price surging by six percent to its highest point in more than four years. Chrysler has been hit by inventory problems and a growing consumer reluctance to buy trucks and sports utility vehicles, while Mercedes-Benz has been wary of getting too close to its U.S. cousin for fear of diluting its luxury brand. Employees arriving for the Thursday (February 15) 6 a.m. shift at Mercedes' Untertuerkheim plant in Stuttgart, Germany had mixed emotions about the news of the lay-offs. "The job cuts in America secure the German ones," said Hans Frei. "At the same time, I guess everyone should be worried about his job." "Better them than us," said Berta Daubner. "If it helps us to slightly improve the company's situation then that's the right direction. If it were up to me, I would sell Chrysler altogether. It was a stupid decision then and it's a stupid thing today." Another employee arriving for work and who refused to be identified simply said: "A lot of jobs have been cut here in Germany too. Equal rights for everyone." Georg Paul, one of almost 24,000 employees working at Untertuerkheim, expressed sympathy for his American colleagues. "Chrysler has to bear the brunt again and that's tough for the colleagues when they're out of a job," he said. "To lose one's job these days in America -- I was there again last year -- that's tough." Seyhan Gudenli pointed out what he called "the new market economy." "They fire everyone in order to make more profit. I don't agree at all but as just a little employee, you have no chance against the bigwigs," Gudenli said.
ITN Source | February 16, 2007
