Great Britain's Magna International, Inc., expected to take over European GM operations as early as next week, agreed today with Unite not to make cuts at two of its Vauxhall plants. The agreement protects workers at the Luton and Ellesmere plants through 2013, but also incorporates cost-saving measures, including a two-year wage freeze (partially offset by an increase in work-week hours). Unite spokespeople confirmed that negotiations at other UK plants, as well as those in other European nations, continue. Germany has already agreed to the loss of 4,000 positions, and Belgium may soon be forced to accept cuts as well.
See "Magna, U.K. unions reach deal", Jonathan Buck, The Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2009