Magna eyes fewer job losses at Spanish plant

MADRID, Oct. 5 (Reuters) - Opel's prospective new owner Magna MGa.TO has promised paring proposed job cuts to 1,300 from 1,650 at the carmaker's Spanish plant, a union spokeswoman said on Monday.

"Magna have tabled a new plan for the plant today, which involves making 100 percent of the five-door Opel Corsa," said Ana Sanchez, an official with the Comisiones Obreras union at the Figueruelas plant in northern Spain.

"That entails about 350 less lay-offs."

Figueruelas currently employs 7,500, and initial plans by Magna to sack more than 10,500 Open workers across Europe ran into fierce opposition from several European governments.

"The more we know about the Magna option, the less we like it," industry minister Miguel Sebastian said on Sept. 15, adding Spain wanted to know detail of the industrial plan for Opel before deciding on government aid. (Reporting by Andres Gonzalez; Writing by Martin Roberts; Editing by Dan Lalor)