The Canadian Auto Workers union is bracing for job cuts as Chrysler LLC prunes slow-selling models from its product lineup, reportedly including the Chrysler Pacifica crossover utility vehicle and the Dodge Magnum station wagon.

The Pacifica is assembled at Chrysler's minivan plant in Windsor, Ont., while the Magnum comes from the company's Brampton, Ont., plant, which also produces the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger large rear-drive sedans.

The CAW scheduled a news briefing Thursday morning to discuss the impact of the Chrysler move, which was seen as likely to cost several hundred Canadian union jobs.

It's part of a wider restructuring by Chrysler which sources say will end the jobs of thousands of workers in the U.S. Midwest.

Anonymous congressional aides said Wednesday that Chrysler intends to eliminate 750 jobs at the Toledo, Ohio, plant which makes the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro, and 1,000 at the Belvidere, Ill. plant, producing the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot.

Also said to be affected are three Michigan plants, Jefferson North, which makes the Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee, Sterling Heights, which assembles the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger, and an engine factory.

The cuts come on top of the elimination of thousands of salaried job cuts which began Wednesday at the newly privatized automaker, and are in addition to 13,000 layoffs announced in February.

Chrysler went private in August when Daimler AG sold 80.1 per
cent of the North American company to private equity firm Cerberus
Capital Management LP, which installed cost-cutting chief executive
Bob Nardelli.