GM's Brazil plant workers stop work

Worried auto workers have briefly stopped production at a General Motors plant in southern Brazil ahead of fresh talks with management over possible job losses, their union says.

The one-hour stoppage was to show the workers' determination to oppose the US automaker's "plans for massive layoffs" at the plant in Sao Jose dos Campos, 80 kilometres from Sao Paulo, a MetalWorkers Union statement said on Tuesday.

Last week, the two sides agreed to hold a new round of talks on Saturday and not to take any decision regarding the anticipated closure of a struggling production line, which would mean 1,500 job losses, until then.

Meanwhile, the union said a study showed that GM cut 1,189 jobs between July 2011 and June 2012 in Brazil.

A GM spokesman refused to comment on the report, but said a meeting in Brasilia on Tuesday between the finance ministry and representatives of the car manufacturer would discuss the Sao Jose dos Campos plant dispute.

The union said that in last week's meeting, the GM management made clear its intention to shut down the struggling production line which has already stopped making Zafira, Merica and Corsa models.

GM also said it planned no new investment in Sao Jose dos Campos because of "structural adjustments," according to the union.

The union meanwhile estimated that 2,000 layoffs at the GM plant would translate into a total loss of 15,500 jobs across the city of Sao Jose dos Campos.

"For each direct job eliminated at GM, another 6.75 indirect ones are lost," a union statement said.

"These figures confirm the seriousness of the situation. It is unacceptable that the federal government continues to minimise the layoffs at GM," said Luiz Carlos Prates, the union chief.

The auto workers staged a 24-hour strike at the plant on July 17 in protest against the feared layoffs.

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