Rumor has it Daimler Chrysler is moving closer to eliminating 5,000 jobs at the Mercedes Car Group's German plant.  This comes after a deal last year between Daimler Chrysler and the works council that guaranteed no worker at its German plants would be laid off, in exchange for concessions that will generate Daimler Chrysler 500 million euros in savings for 2007.  In other words, the only way for Daimler Chrysler to cut 5,000 jobs will be via volunteers who will receive tidy little buyout packages. How much you ask? Daimler Chrysler is expected to incur charges in the triple digit millions of euros. Ouch.

Zetsche is rumored to be presenting the job-reducing proposal at a board meeting in Detroit later this week.

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