Ellesmere Port Looks Safe

According to Just-auto, GM's Ellesmere Port car making plant near Liverpool, England is to move to three-shift operation in 2011. The move means there will be no redundancies at the 2,200-worker plant as part of GME's 9,000 Europe-wide job cuts because "all current labour would need to be utilised to staff the third shift," GME said.
The plant, GME's launch facility for the redesigned Astra five-door hatchback, starts building the 'Sports Tourer' wagon version in 2010. The third (night) shift would boost output from 120,000 to 180,000 cars a year.
UK workers at the Luton van plant do not appear to be so fortunate, as around 300 of the 1,500 workers there would lose their jobs. Job losses will be made at GM plants in Europe but Ellesmere Port is sensibly safe. Let's face it, GM's production in the UK is paltry considering how well the UK public patronise their vehicles.

The bottom line: Sanity prevails and GMUK car production at least is safe, if not so for GM van making workers at Luton.