DETROIT, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- While Chrysler officials said they expect overall employment to remain stable in 2005, the automaker is eliminating hourly jobs at three U.S. stamping plants.
United Auto Workers officials tell the Detroit Free Press about 200 highly-paid, skilled-trades jobs are being cut this week at plants in Warren and Sterling Heights, Mich., and Twinsburg, Ohio.
Chrysler is offering early-retirement packages to older workers and others facing layoffs could be transferred to another plant.
Chrysler is creating 900 new jobs at its Brampton, Ontario, plant that will make the new Dodge Charger.
"These moves are related to the productivity improvements we are trying to make a Chrysler so we can be a world-class manufacturer and compete with foreign automakers," a spokeswoman told the newspaper.
Chrysler Group officials said overall U.S. employment would remain at about 55,000 hourly workers and 21,000 salaried employees though 2006.
