Opel Antwerp to shed 800 more jobs

1 June 2007

BRUSSELS (AP) – General Motors Corp.’s Opel plant in Antwerp will shed some 2,200 jobs as it moves to reduced production, 800 more than originally anticipated, officials said Thursday.

Management and unions on Thursday assessed the future of the plant, which employs 4,760 people, after weeks of intermittent strikes. Because of reduced demand, more jobs will be lost over the coming years, the officials said.

According to an agreement reached with workers’ representatives in Germany on Tuesday, GM said it would continue to produce 120,000 units per year at the Antwerp factory after production of the Astra is transferred abroad. The Antwerp plant currently makes around 225,000 cars per year.

Union members at the Antwerp plant were informed that two midsize Chevrolet models would be made at the factory to replace the Astra. GM said it would review the situation after 2009 and perhaps add a third model or an extra 30,000 to 60,000 cars per year.

Unions now want to center on bringing the third model to the plant and getting financial compensation for the job cuts.

Subject: Belgian news