Chrysler Confirms 20% Job Cut; just-auto.com Reports on the Actions - Which Plants Will Lose Shifts, Slow Production and Close?

    LONDON, Jan. 29 http://www.just-auto.com --
26,000 Chrysler employees are likely to be affected as the Chrysler group
announce job cuts and plant closures as part of a turnaround plan.
    The report at http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=23013 says that
both salaried and hourly employees will be affected by the changes.  "Today's
actions will help remove the uncertainty many of our employees have been
feeling," said Chrysler Group president and chief executive officer Dieter
Zetsche.  He continues, "Part of this process may be painful for many people.
However, to be truly competitive in today's auto industry environment, we need
to be a more nimble company, more closely aligned with current and future
market conditions."
    Chrysler is hoping it can reach this number partly through retirements --
23,700 hourly and 4,920 salaried employees in the US and Canada are eligible
for retirement or for one of the special programmes.  Indeed, Chrysler is
offering around 2,000 employees aged 55-61, with over 10 years service a
special retirement deal.
    Layoffs and plant closures will commence immediately.  In the US this
year, Belvidere in Illinois, Jefferson North in Detroit, Toledo II in Ohio and
Newark in Delaware will be affected.  In Canada the same will happen with,
Bramalea in Brampton, Pillette Road in Windsor and Windsor in Ontario.

    For the full report see: http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=23013

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