Vauxhall jobs joy as production will increase
NO jobs will be lost at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory, owner General Motors has revealed.
Instead of the feared cuts, production at the plant will be increased – ending months of speculation over the future.
Ellesmere Port is one of the jewels in the crown of General Motors’ European division in terms of efficiency and productivity, and the news is a huge vote of confidence in the workforce of 2,200.
General Motors, which earlier this month ditched plans to sell Vauxhall and its other European businesses, said yesterday that 9,000 jobs would be lost across Europe in a restructuring operation.
In a statement General Motors said: “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.”
Ellesmere Port was the lead factory for the design and manufacture of the latest Astra model – which has been well received by the market-place.
New GM Europe boss Nick Reilly – who earlier in his career was managing director of Vauxhall – hinted last week that the future was positive for Ellesmere Port.
Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the North West Development Agency said the development was “fantastic news for the region”
“Ellesmere Port is one of the most efficient factories in the global General Motors portfolio and an important employer in the region. The staff and management deserve this vote of confidence from the owners.
“The NWDA has a long history with the plant, we are currently helping to improve quality and efficiency further with over £8.7m of funding for training, announced last year, which continues to make a real difference at the factory.
“The staff and management have worked hard over the past few years to secure the next generation Astra and we will help them to ensure the workforce is trained to the highest standards going forward.”
Damian Waters, North West regional director of the business group CBI added: “After a worrying period of uncertainy and concern for Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port, it is great to have this news confirmed.
“The Ellesmere Port plant plays a vital role in UK motor manufacturing and I am looking forward to a bright future at the home of the Astra.”
The automotive sector in the North West is the second largest in the UK, supporting around 43,000 jobs.
