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http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article5780613.ece

CAR industry sources last night named Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant on the banks of the Mersey as the one a union boss claims faces imminent closure, with the loss of 6,000 jobs.

On Friday Tony Woodley, general secretary of Unite, ignited a fierce row with Lord Mandelson, the business secretary,when he said an unnamed car plant would be closed “within the next couple of days” if ministers did not arrange a bailout with taxpayers’ funds.

GM, Vauxhall’s American owner, has said it plans to cut 47,000 jobs worldwide this year because of the collapse of car sales since the onset of the economic slowdown.

Ellesmere Port employs about 2,000 workers, but Unite’s leader claims two other major suppliers may also be forced to close, leaving a further 4,000 jobs under threat. The plant opened in the early 1960s and builds the Vauxhall Astra.
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One senior car industry source named Ellesmere Port as the plant identified by Woodley, but stressed it was unlikely it would close.

“This is being hyped up,” he said. “We just don’t believe the government will allow the plant to close.”

The majority of posts on industry internet chatrooms also suggest Ellesmere Port is the plant to which Woodley was referring,though a Vauxhall spokesmandenied that it was at risk.

On Friday Mandelson accused Woodley of spreading “rumours”, adding that the speculation could “destabilise a company or industry and bring about the very outcome we are seeking to avoid”.

Andy Burnham, the culture secretary, added to the criticism of the union leader yesterday, saying: “It’s irresponsible really to put an unfounded rumour of that kind into the public domain. It’s quite clear to anybody with eyes and ears that the car industry is facing a very difficult time.”

Woodley is embroiled in a struggle with his rival Derek Simpson for control of Unite. Union members are deciding on who should be their next leader, and the deadline for votes is early next month.

A Unite spokeswomen refused to be drawn on the name of the car plant. The union expects up to 100,000 car manufacturing jobs to be lost in the current recession.

Jaguar Land Rover has already announced 1,000 redundancies. Nissan is planning 1,200 job cuts and BMW said 850 posts would go at the Mini plant near Oxford.

Last month’s £2.3 billion government bailout for the car industry included guarantees to unlock loans of up to £1.3 billion from the European Investment Bank, plus a further £1 billion in government loans for green-vehicle investment.


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Ouch ouch and ouch and a double double ouch..... noonoo

all i can say lads blame THE FRICKIN GOVERMENT..


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All scaremongering and speculation at the moment.

I work there and admit to worrying about the plants future but the investment and work gone into the place compared to the other european astra plants is well advanced. Ellesmere Port is the lead plant for the 2010 model.

Lets hope that ALL our local job losses are kept to a minimum.

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Fingers firmly crossed for all you guys that work there. This not knowing must be the worst feeling.

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This is shocking if it happens


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Ive got a big job to do in there in the General Assembly area, but been putting it off just incase, bit of outlay on parts for me and then my labour, bad enuf trying to get paid off them in the past(all payments are from Barcelona), dont wish to be lumbered with a non payment!!
Bit of a kick in the nuts for ellesmere port and surrounding businesses! Gonna be a bad one if (when?) this goes!


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It's the factories that they contract work out to as well. There's a few in Deeside employing a lot of people and more elsewhere.

I notice that news report goes from saying '6000 jobs will go', to '2000 jobs might go, with 4000 other jobs maybe going as well elsewhere'.
I think GM is going to cut their losses, and this might be a case of just getting rid of outside interests and start centralising. I hope Opel/Vauxhall becomes a seperate entity, otherwise GM make really, really shitty cars.


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Published Date: 20 February 2009
WORKERS at Ellesmere Port's Vauxhall plant are facing an uncertain future following General Motors' announcement to axe 47,000 jobs worldwide.
Discussions about cost-cutting at Vauxhall car and van plants in the UK are set to continue and the company has presented plans to the US treasury department for state aid.

GM hopes the move will save the ailing business from bankruptcy, which would involve closing five factories in ........

http://www.ellesmereportstandard.co.uk/news/Vauxhall-workers-in-Ellesmere-Port.5001149.jp

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Just spoke to my Brother in law in Melbourne today and GM have shut 4 factories over there!!
Its gettin shitty people!!


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Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory ‘is safe’ General Motors assure




ELLESMERE Port’s Vauxhall factory has a strong future and is not threatened with imminent closure, parent company General Motors said last night.

Fears had grown after Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley last week said an unnamed UK car plant was in need of “serious financial help” and would close “within just a couple of days” without it.

Yesterday reports suggested that plant could be Ellesmere Port, which employs more than 2,000 workers.

But last night GM director of communications for the UK and Ireland Dennis Chick said: “It’s absolute rubbish. We are in business and we will continue to be in business.”

It is now believed the plant Merseyside-born Mr Woodley was referring to is the LDV Vans site in Birmingham.

Mr Woodley said: “My comments about a plant with difficulties do not relate to Ellesmere Port.”

And Mr Chick was adamant that Ellesmere Port has a strong future.

“The point is we’re going back to three or four shifts and we are the first plant in Europe to build a car well into 2010, in the most significant sector.

“It just beggars belief.”

Ellesmere Port has secured a contract to produce the new Astra, with work due to commence in September this year.

In the aftermath of Mr Woodley’s comments, Business Secretary Peter Mandelson accused him of spreading “rumours” and warned the speculation could “destabilise a company or industry and bring about the very outcome we are seeking to avoid”.

Mr Chick said: “Tony Woodley should come off the pot and tell us which company he is talking about, otherwise it’s just going to go on and on because of the incessant interest.

“He’s doing a good job trying to get the government to come off the pot, but it doesn’t help us.”

Ellesmere Port and Neston councillor Ted Lloyd represents Vauxhall’s neighbouring Rossmore ward, home to many of the car plant’s employees.

The Labour councillor said: “It doesn’t do them any good to be talking along these lines, even if they are rumours.

“Rumours can be an awful thing and people get all sorts of ideas, particularly with so many residents around here being employed at the plant.

“They are all saying there is no smoke without fire.

“It’s a pity Tony made the statement without being able to substantiate it in some way.”

But the Unite joint general secretary refused to be drawn further on speculation, and refused to reveal whether his comments related to any north west plant.

Tony Woodley added: “We have been talking incredibly hard with government and the company for many weeks in order to make sure the Ellesmere Port plant has a long term future, and these negotiations and discussions are continuing.”

LDV has halted production at its factory in Birmingham since December 12 following the global downturn in sales.

Sales across the van sector have almost halved in the past three months in line with the slump affecting car companies

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There is a mass meeting at 6.45am on Thursday. Union officials will be speaking to dispell any rumours and clear the air.

They will also be telling us why we will be paying more weekly into our pension plans for a lesser return upon retirement.


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Mass metting on the 26th Feb to assure the workers and by 3rd of March the threat is back.

As somebody posted..its the not knowing that eats at you.

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Worst thing must be hearing all the stories flying about thankgod my jobs very safe (famous last words)


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Vauxhall quash Ellesmere Port closure fears

VAUXHALL MOTORS' owner has issued a statement denying there is any threat to the Ellesmere Port plant.

GM UK has quashed fears for the site's future by stressing there are no plans for it to be axed.

The alarm went up following a press conference at the Geneva Motor Show yesterday when GM European president, Carl-Peter Forster, said if the company did not get support from the government, it will have to close down UK operations.

But today, the company statement says: “It was highlighted during an official press conference at the Geneva Motor Show that Vauxhall was a very strong and successful brand in the UK and there are no plans for it to be axed.

“Both Ellesmere Port and Luton are very lean and efficient plants and as a result Ellesmere Port remains the lead production plant for the next generation Astra, scheduled for launch in quarter three of 2009.”

It said GM Europe’s request for financial support was aimed at several European governments and was not a direct threat at the UK.

Wirral South MP Ben Chapman said: “It may be Mr Forster is setting out his stall for any future negotiations with governments although the UK government has already offered a £2.3bn package of support for the industry.

“The Vauxhall plant is widely recognised as an important site.”

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