Another 1,000 jobs at risk at GM's Opel

German union: Another 1,000 jobs at risk at GM's Opel

BERLIN -- General Motors Corp.'s Adam Opel AG unit could cut another 1,000 jobs in Europe because of slowing demand for its Astra compact, labor representatives said Tuesday.

Rainer Einenkel, head of the works council at Opel's factory in Bochum, Germany, said the carmaker was considering axing one shift at one of three plants making the Astra.

The shift could be cut at Bochum or at Opel plants in Antwerp, Belgium, or Ellesmere Port, Britain.

"That is a very real danger," Einenkel said.

Opel said it had no current plans to cut a shift but added it could "adjust production capacity to customer demand" in future as the latest Astra model ages.

Capacity utilization at all three sites is currently "satisfactory," it said in a statement.

Klaus Franz, the top labor representative at Opel, said talks on production levels were slated for April. He proposed easing production at several sites to avoid possible job cuts.

Opel announced last year it would cut 9,500 jobs in Germany as its parent, GM, trims employment and costs in Europe.

Link: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...427/1148/AUTO01