BERLIN_Employees of General Motors Co.'s unit Opel are planning protests and work stoppages at four German factories against the decision to abandon the sale of the automaker.

Some 25,000 Opel employees were expected to vent their frustration and anger Thursday at GM, which after months of overwrought negotiations decided late Tuesday to call off Opel's sale to Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. and Russian lender Sberbank.

The move has been heavily criticized by German and Russian politicians. The employees fear GM's decision to restructure the automaker could result in big layoffs and job cuts.

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