Communist Web
Wednesday 15th March 2000 9.30pm gmt
Jobs "downsizing", corporate "upsizing"
Nissan's "revival" plan in Japan is running into opposition from its
workforce who are opposed to the plan to transfer employers, the
centrepiece of a plan to cut 21,000 jobs. The plan was made by Renault's
chief operations officer, Carlos Ghosn, who was sent by the Renault to
Japan following the French company's takeover of Nissan last October.
It has become clear that the plan is not for Nissan's "revival" but
represents the French automaker's attempt to turn Nissan into a de facto
subcontractor of Renault.
The French Government is Renault's number one stockholder, holding 44
percent of its shares. Renault obtained 36.8 percent of Nissan Motor shares
and 22.5 percent of Nissan Diesel shares.
Carlos Ghosn and other Renault executives has taken seats on the Nissan
board.
In Japan this was described as a "tie up between Nissan and Renault"
whereas in Europe it was reported as "Renault's acquisition of Nissan".
The main points of the restructuring are:
* A 30 percent cut in production capacity through the closure of five
plants, cutting 21,000 workers and creating a structure for a "leaner
production system";
* A 50 percent reduction of the 1,145 parts and material suppliers down to
600 and cutting the number of equipment and service suppliers from 6,900 to
3,400;
* A streamlining of the sales network by closing at least 20 percent of the
direct sales outlets;
* The selling of sections related to fork-lift vehicles, aerospace
technology and textile machinery parts;
* The sale of shares in companies related to cellular phones and the sale
of... http://www.billkath.demon.co.uk/cw/job/job.html
