No job cuts at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant, says parent company General Motors

Nov 26 2009 by Gary Porter, Chester Chronicle

GENERAL Motors has confirmed that there will be no job cuts at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant and that the factory will introduce a third shift in 2011.

The news comes as the carmaker begins its consultation process with each individual plant in Europe over its plans for the future.

A GM statement said: “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 third shift introduction in 2011, the plan is for no redundancies as all current labour would need to be utilised to staff the third 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.”

A delighted Ellesmere Port MP Andrew Miller said: “It’s extremely good news. It just goes to show what people working together can produce.

“The partnership between the company, trade unions and the government has brought about this result. And the workforce have kept delivering.”