Is direct labor cost always a variable cost? Consider General Motors’ Opel subsidiary. In August 2004, Opel announced that it would try to add five hours to its 35-hour work week, without increasing...

Is direct labor cost always a variable cost? Consider General Motors’ Opel subsidiary. In August 2004, Opel announced that it would try to add five hours to its 35-hour work week, without increasing workers’ pay. Would Opel consider direct labor to be a variable or fixed cost? Why?