GM unit Vauxhall says to cut 354 jobs at British plant

LONDON: Vauxhall, the British division of troubled US carmaker General Motors, announced on Monday that it planned to cut more than 350 jobs at one of its two British factories.

"As part of the consultation process commenced ... last week, the GM manufacturing facility in Luton has now begun its own period of consultation between unions and local management," the company said in a statement.

"One element of the current plan is a proposal to reduce GM Luton's headcount by 354 employees to right-size the business in line with the 2010 forecast production volume."

The affected factory is based in the town of Luton close to London. It currently employs almost 1,500 workers and makes the Vivaro commercial van in a joint venture with French carmaker Renault.

Vauxhall said the number of job losses was "subject to further local consultation."

"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" the plant, it added.

Last week, Vauxhall ruled out job cuts at its main car plant in Ellesmere Port, northwest England, which employs about 2,200 workers.

General Motors last week outlined plans to axe 9,000 jobs across its European unit Opel/Vauxhall and said that 50-60 percent of those cuts would be in Germany.