PRODUCTION at car maker Vauxhall's only UK plant was at a standstill last night when workers staged a lightning strike over fears that up to 1,000 jobs could be axed.
Union leaders refused to condemn the unofficial walkout at the plant in Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, describing it as "understandable".
General Motors is in talks with unions about production at the plant as part of a review of capacity across its three Astra factories in Europe.
The company stressed again yesterday that no decision had been made, but there are fears among unions that up to 1,000 jobs could be cut by axing one of the shifts at the factory.
Comments in Germany last night by GM Europe chief Carl-Peter Forster raised fears that job losses were planned. He said that the idea of spreading cuts over the car firm's other European plants was "not super attractive".
About 900 workers arrived for the morning shift, but decided halfway through to walkout in protest at the comments. The afternoon shift followed suit, leading to the lost production of hundreds of Astra cars and vans.
Tony Woodley, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, said he could not condemn the strike because of the "outrageous" comments made by Mr Forster.
"For him to make these comments at exactly the same time as meetings are being held across Europe to try to find an alternative to losing a shift at Ellesmere Port is beyond belief," said Mr Woodley.
A Vauxhall spokesman said: "We are extremely disappointed and would urge everyone to return to work as soon as possible."
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