BERLIN, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Opel's works council on Wednesday rejected a restructuring plan that will cut 9,000 jobs, proposed by its U.S. parent company, General Motors.

    "As far as we are concerned, the loss of 9,000 jobs in Europe is unacceptable," Klaus Franz, head of Opel's works council said, according to local media reports.

    He said the job cuts were "economic nonsense" and that Opel would anyway lose 10,500 jobs by 2013 through voluntary departures and retirements. Franz is also a member of Opel's supervisory board.

    No detail of the plan has been published. Negotiations on the restructuring are set to resume next month.

    To reorganize Opel and its U.K. sister brand, Vauxhall, GM plans to provide 600 million euros (858 million U.S. dollars) and to seek 2.7-billion-euro (3.86-billion-dollar) in aid from European Union countries where Opel and Vauxhall have factories, local media reports.

    Opel experienced a dramatic year in 2009. It was set to be sold by GM in September to the Canadian auto parts group Magna International and its Russian partner Sberbank. However, in November, GM suddenly decided to keep Opel, considering the improving business environment and the importance of Opel/Vauxhallto GM's global strategy.

    GM's abrupt decision to cut jobs angered German politicians, media and workers. Just two days after the plan was announced, thousands of workers at Opel plants in Germany went on to the streets in Ruesselsheim near Frankfurt to protest.

Special Report:  Global Financial Crisis