Heres the reason GM partner is in so much trouble. Ask the Govt?

[JBsZ06]

Company asks unions for approval to lay off workers; response is "no"
Fiat management asked labor unions Monday for approval of a plan to lay off up to 8000 Fiat Auto workers but met with opposition. Late last week, the company reportedly asked the Italian government to subsidize partial salary ! payments for such a layoff. A spokesman for the FIOM-CGIL union, quoted by the Detroit News, said the union "refuses to accept" more layoffs, plant closings, or "any other proposal that leads to the dismantling of the auto sector and paves the way for its sale." There is no word on what Fiat's next move would be, nor is there official confirmation on the Italian government's role in any planned layoffs. The automaker had already announced in early 2002 that it would cut about 3500 jobs, mainly inside Italy, as part of a strategy to address serious financial problems and declining market share.