GM has no date to resume operations; Ford plans to halt production

Pro-government trade unions in GM denied claims that they are sabotaging operations (Photo: AFP)

Economy The automotive sector has an uphill road to climb due to delays caused by the Venezuelan Foreign Exchange Administration Commision (Cadivi) and trade union protests in recent months.

The time of labor conflicts has come for General Motors. The world's largest automaker asked workers not to show up to work on Monday, after the company found that a group of representatives of trade union Socialistas Vencedores (Socialist Winners), who have been protesting at the gates of the assembly plant located in Valencia, central Venezuela, were armed.

The carmaker company has also said that members of the trade union have sabotaged the processes and products of GM. However, Adam Tortolero, the secretary general trade union Socialistas Vencedores, has rejected the claims.

"We will continue the strike according to law. We have not caused any damage to the company. We just want a fair pay," said the union representative.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. sources said that the top officers of the plant are planning to halt operations for three weeks. They have mentioned, tentatively, that the shutdown would start on September 1.

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05:09 PM. Economy. If any country has cashed in on the Bolivarian revolution, that is Brazil, particularly the private companies of the southern neighbor. Over the past five years, it has been awarded contracts for works to be carried out in Venezuela for over USD 14 billion. This puts it as the first recipient of government-to-government contracts, that is, without bidding, since Hugo Chávez took office.