General Motors (GM) yesterday announced 354 job cuts at Vauxhall’s UK plant in Luton and none in Ellesmere Port.
On Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Opel/Vauxhall Nick Reilly said GM would cut 9,000 jobs across Europe as part of its restructuring plans. GM said yesterday it planned to cut 5,425 jobs in Germany, 2,321 from its Antwerp plant in Belgium and 900 from its Zaragoza plant in Spain.
The GM UK press office in Luton yesterday issued the following press statement: ‘Following the press conference held on Wednesday afternoon in Ruesselsheim, Germany where Nick Reilly, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Opel/Vauxhall gave a brief summary of the discussions that had been held with the European Employee Forum (EEF) in respect of the Opel/Vauxhall viability business plan, the consultation process with each individual manufacturing plant in Europe has now begun.
‘This process will continue over the next month to finalise details of the forward plan for Opel/Vauxhall across Europe. As a first step in this consultation process, Ellesmere Port is today advising employees of the proposals for its future.
‘The proposed plan is for Ellesmere Port to move to a three shift production operation in 2011. To support the launch in 2010 of the new Astra Sports Tourer and to prepare for the 3rd shift introduction in 2011, the plan is for no redundancies as all current labour would need to be utilised to staff the 3rd shift.
‘Plant and Trade Union Senior Leadership will now work together to develop the details of the plan in order to support the future strategy for Ellesmere Port.’ There was no mention of the Luton plant in this statement.
• Russia’s state-controlled investment group Russian Technologies and Moscow bank Troika Dialog are today due to sign a deal for French car-maker Renault to expand its holding in Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ, to coincide with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Paris, deputy chief of staff Yuri Ushakov has said. Russia is keen for Renault to build Renault cars and vans at the Russian plant.
