General Motors may cut 12,000 jobs in UK

General Motors (GM) has confirmed that it is considering cutting 1,000 jobs in the UK this year.

The group hopes to cut production of the Vauxhall Astra model at its plant in Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, accroding to GM Europe chief Carl-Peter Forster.

GM is in talks with unions who want to spread the cuts across Europe.

Amicus has said that simply cutting jobs in the UK "makes no sense", and called for cuts to also take place at plants in Belgium and Germany.

However, Forster said that such a plan was "not super-attractive" and "just delays a real solution".

Tony Woodley, Transport and General Workers Union general secretary, said: "The president of GM Europe has spelt out what the T&G has been warning about for years: Britain is the soft touch of Europe when it comes to taking away workers' jobs.

"I demand that our government acts now to protect British workers and their families with proper employment laws instead of a licence to throw people on the scrap heap."

GM has been examining ways of boosting production and cutting costs as part of a restructuring drive, which includes axing around 12,000 jobs.