SOME 900 WORKERS AT A GENERAL MOTORS (GM) PLANT IN BRITAIN STAGED AN UNOFFICIAL WALKOUT THURSDAY OVER FEARS THAT UP TO 1,000 JOBS COULD BE LOST AT THE SITE, WHERE VAUXHALL CARS ARE PRODUCED, DPA REPORTED. UNION OFFICIALS SAID PRODUCTION AT THE PLANT IN ELLESMERE PORT, SOUTH OF LIVERPOOL IN NORTH-WEST BRITAIN, CAME TO A STANDSTILL AS A RESULT OF THE "SPONTANEOUS" PROTEST. THE WALKOUT FOLLOWED REMARKS BY GM EUROPEAN PRESIDENT CARL-PETER FORSTER IN GERMANY THAT CAPACITY AT THREE FACTORIES IN EUROPE WAS BEING REVIEWED. FORSTER STRESSED THURSDAY THAT NO DECISION HAD BEEN MADE. "BRITAIN IS THE SOFT TOUCH OF EUROPE WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING AWAY WORKERS' JOBS. BRITISH CAR WORKERS ARE AMONG THE BEST IN EUROPE, BUT THEY'RE THE EASIEST TO SACK", SAID TONY WOODLEY, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION (TGWU).
