Perhaps most important, through its example, it may make Japan's feeble company unions do more to protect their members.
As a result, only 22% of Japanese workers nowadays belong to a trade union, and most of those are in company unions organised and supported by their employers.
They have allowed some of the country's biggest industrial firms to foster more pliant company unions, such as Ford's, and many maquiladora (free zone) factories along Mexico's northern border get away with unions that are registered (thus excluding any others) but otherwise non-existent.
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"I have instructed officials and the Welsh Development Agency to work with the company and their unions to do all we can to help those losing their jobs to find new work quickly, " he said.
When Kelleher retired in 2000, he was succeeded by company lawyer Jim Parker, who ran the airline during the traumatic aftermath of Sept. 11 but retired abruptly in 2004 after ugly contract negotiations with the company's unions.
The company will consult with unions and staff before the number of job losses in the UK is finalised.
The company is negotiating with unions to close two facilities in the U.K. by mid-year and recently struck a deal with unions to close an assembly plant in Genk, Belgium.
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The company had offered the unions a 25% stake in the reorganized Hostess if they would agree to significant wage and pension concessions but the Bakers Union members overwhelmingly rejected the proposal.
"The company has advised me that the 90-day notice will allow for negotiations with the trade unions and provide the company with an opportunity to seek new work from the group, " the East Belfast assembly member said.
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Mr Higgins said the company should have consulted with unions before making the announcement.
The unions said the company has developed a "culture of blame and fault-finding".
After months of negotiations with labor unions, the company asked the court for permission to cancel its existing labor contracts.
But in America, where oversight has long been a fact of life, the government's message is clear: when it comes to company e-mail, unions are sacred.
As for GM's European operation, it has needed a massive overhaul for years, but because of political pressures and resistance from European labor unions, the company has been able to make only baby steps thus far.
Lori Nelson, a spokeswoman for Station, said the company isn't opposed to unions.
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And perhaps they now have a bigger piece of the company's ear than the unions and other social critics do.
This would be the first such exercise at a large company in China, where labour unions have traditionally been controlled by management and local government.
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Regarding compensation of workers, the company said it is talking to unions about compensating those who completed training and accreditation but were unable to work.
The company is now consulting with trade unions and affected employees.
The combination of an undesirable product line, massive debt hangover and unions that wanted the company to make good on its promises, ultimately killed the company.
The company said it was working with unions and would keep employees informed, while the union Unite has pledged to put pressure on the firm and the government to keep the factory open.
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"Obviously the trade unions, along with the company and a number of politicians, have been pressing for support for the company's business plan, " he said.
Mr. Peruzzi, the Detroit driver and a member of the Teamsters, says he wants the unions to work with the company because he fears what will happen if there is a standoff.
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The company must negotiate new terms with two other unions, the flight attendants' and machinists', both of which are looking for pilot-size raises.
He has also prepared the ground with the unions, which are supporting the company, and with local government, so that job-retraining programmes can start quickly.
The company intends to do this jointly with the unions and government and proposes that a joint advisory board is established to oversee their development and implementation.
The company, Student Choice, provides funding through credit unions.
"We're pleased the company has put forward a new offer to the unions, however the content will need to be considered by the bargaining groups for ground support staff and check-in workers, " said TGWU chief negotiator Brendan Gould.
The unions have described the latest offer by the company as derisory and their position as intransigent.
Kellogg, but emerges stronger for it, creating a rival company and becoming the nation's chief foe of unions.
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