4:11pm Friday 22nd August 2008
By Simon Carr
OVER 100 jobs are to go at the Ford plant in Southampton, the Daily Echo can reveal.
About 125 workers on short-term contracts are to be be laid off.
The cut backs will be made on October 3 and affect all departments of the Southampton factory.
One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had worked at the plant since February but now faced the axe.
He said: "It's very depressing. My wife's in tears because we've got to pay the mortgage. We're not going to have jobs in six weeks' time, but what chance have we got of getting work at this time of year.
"When we first started we were told we would be given new contracts when ours ran out. All the guys I've spoken to were given empty promises.
"We got the news when we started at one this afternoon. The managers haven't even spoken to us yet - this came from the unions - they're saying it's to do with the economy."
He went on to say the workers were angry they had got this news after a three week shut down and believed the company was in a position to tell them before the break.
This move has reignited fears that the work from the Southampton plant may be shipped out to the Kocaeli plant in Turkey.
It comes after the Echo exclusively published a leaked company memo in July which showed the future of the Southampton plant was under review.
It stated the company had: "highlighted a number of economic and operating factors which make it very difficult to achieve a level of investment in Southampton that would enable us to continue at current volume levels" and was looking at "possible alternative scenarios."
Later company documents published by the Echo revealed that the bosses considered the Southampton plant was at a "critical point in its history" and that it was running at a deficit of more than £6m against budget.
Plant manager Martin Chapman is quoted in the minutes telling fellow managers that they must do all they can to reduce cost if the Southampton plant is to get the new transit contract in 2010.
Another meeting is to be held in mid September.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk