GM will cut jobs at Vauxhall plant

16 May 2006

Vauxhall to announce cuts tomorrow
1000 workers jobs to go to cut Astra production
Chancellor may visit plant to save remaining jobs

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Vauxhall is expected to announce up to 1000 job losses at its Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire tomorrow.

No official statements have been made by the manufacturer or unions as yet, but insiders suggest the writing is on the wall for 1000 workers at the factory.

GM, Vauxhall's owners, has been looking into ways of reducing production of the Astra and identified the removal of one of three shifts from the UK plant as one possible solution.

The Financial Times also carries unconfirmed reports that chancellor Gordon Brown will visit Ellesmere Port tomorrow to plead with GM to save the final two shifts at the plant.

Trade union Amicus blames weak labour laws for job losses in the UK car industry. These also include 420 jobs at component supplier Continental Tevo yesterday, tomorrow's likely cuts at Ellesmere Port and next year's closure of Peugeot's Ryton plant.

TVR recently announced it will leave Blackpool, and the closure of Jaguar's Browns Lane site and the complete collapse of MG Rover took place last year.