I am following intensly the intricate debacle of industry in Soton and area Indeed the whole of the UK - and I mean 'sell out' of men who are trying to survive with families and kids. I have always been conscious of the so called 'private sector'. a name describing 'fly by night' business entrapenaurs.' the whole of England is driven by this disgraceful 'big boys' net work. They have gone to the best schools, best education to become the dregs of our modern society - yes, they are greedy, do not care a jot for their fellow human being and really are a disgrace to mankind. This is only a small part of their Empire - they are like pirates - all right this is Soton but take note almost all these Investors will move on when they see better in far off lands. Angry, yes I am. We are what we are now - afraid for our future, afraid of not providing for our families and indeed do not feel secure with these Pirates. How can any Government sell us out like this.

goard

Forgive me for putting over a different view but Ford has never been anything more than a privately owned US company operating on a global scale. It's not Rover and the decisions are made thousands of miles away in Detroit. If it wasn't Swaythling it would be somewhere else in Western Europe.

Goard - Ford has no commitment to the UK nor has it promised jobs for life to all employees - simple economics and the global market mean change will happen, tough on some, better for others, possibly overseas, sad but that's life - how you can connect this to a tirade against entrepreneurs and "big boy" networks makes no sense at all.

Condor Man wrote:
Forgive me for putting over a different view but Ford has never been anything more than a privately owned US company operating on a global scale. It's not Rover and the decisions are made thousands of miles away in Detroit. If it wasn't Swaythling it would be somewhere else in Western Europe.

Ford Motor company is indeed an American Company.However, Ford Motor Company Ltd is a British Company listed at Companies House.
It directly employs 17,000 people in the UK and indirectly, many thousands more.
It is a major exporter (Southampton exports 60% of its build)making a positive and significant contribution both to this countrys balance of trade and to the Treasury.
If the Southampton plant is off- shored it would be a huge loss to the local economy and when the remaining Ford plants follow, it will be a huge loss to the national economy.
Although the parent company is based in the states it is a British company employing British workers just like Rover was.

Just the usual procedure before the plant finally closes. Any management going?

Industry is only there to make money. Noblesse oblige was declared dead with the potatoe famine in Ireland in the 1840s.

Leaving aside Goard's stupid and confused, class ridden claptrap post attacking the very capitalism that created the jobs in the first place I'd just like to mention that the survival of the Transit plant and its guaranteed existence for at least another decade is a tribute to its workforce. The Swaythling plant is relatively small, and the workforce have ensured its continued existence through productivity improvements, relatively good labour relations (despite the deluded Goard thinking the managers are all "toffs"), and a willingness of the unions to negotiate changes in working practice. Well done to them.

Andy Locks Heath wrote:
Leaving aside Goard's stupid and confused, class ridden claptrap post attacking the very capitalism that created the jobs in the first place I'd just like to mention that the survival of the Transit plant and its guaranteed existence for at least another decade is a tribute to its workforce. The Swaythling plant is relatively small, and the workforce have ensured its continued existence through productivity improvements, relatively good labour relations (despite the deluded Goard thinking the managers are all "toffs"), and a willingness of the unions to negotiate changes in working practice. Well done to them.

" The very capitalism that created the jobs in the first place" How do you suppose these benificent capitalists aquired their capital in the first place?
As for 10 year 'guarantees' as to the plants future exsistence we have seen how worthless Ford's guarantees are. In the States, last November, Ford negotiated a 4 year pay freeze with the UAW in return for a promise not to shutter any more plants during the duration of the agreement - I believe it was less than 6 months before Ford reneged. Meanwhile here in the UK in 2001 Ford 'guaranteed' not to off-shore any further production jobs. Now Ford want to betray a loyal and productive workforce (to whom you rightly pay tribute) by sending their jobs abroad.
Years of concession bargaining have brought us to this. It is time for the company to stick by the promises it has already made before we consider any more.
Unless they do so then an early ballot for direct action is sure to follow.

Let's talk like adults. Capitalists create capital. If you take the approach that it is "off the backs of the workers" then you should suggest an alternative that provides as much prosperity and fuels as much future prosperity as the capitalist system - the idea that somehow capitalism is controlled by the lazy excercise of privilege is the kind of anachronistic rubbish I used to hear on the football terraces (and still read on the UglyInside. Army Officers have to be tougher and fitter than the men they lead and so it is in industry. The fittest and strongest organisations prosper, as do the brightest. You don't need a private education to succeed (though it helps) but you do need a brain and you do need to work hard. If you ballot to strike then you might as well be a turkey voting for christmas, and Ford will forget the new investment at Swaythling and send the jobs to the far east where supply can be guaranteed. Like it or not, that's the reality. Do you really think striking will help?

Andy Locks Heath wrote:
Let's talk like adults. Capitalists create capital. If you take the approach that it is "off the backs of the workers" then you should suggest an alternative that provides as much prosperity and fuels as much future prosperity as the capitalist system - the idea that somehow capitalism is controlled by the lazy excercise of privilege is the kind of anachronistic rubbish I used to hear on the football terraces (and still read on the UglyInside. Army Officers have to be tougher and fitter than the men they lead and so it is in industry. The fittest and strongest organisations prosper, as do the brightest. You don't need a private education to succeed (though it helps) but you do need a brain and you do need to work hard. If you ballot to strike then you might as well be a turkey voting for christmas, and Ford will forget the new investment at Swaythling and send the jobs to the far east where supply can be guaranteed. Like it or not, that's the reality. Do you really think striking will help?

Oh dear! I dont think I'm the one spouting 'anachronistic rubbish' here!
I know lots of people sitting jobless, in their negative equity homes struggling to service debt, food and heating bills.
They are starting to get a little disillusioned with all this 'prosperity' that unfettered freemarket capitalism has brought them.
I don't intend to get into that position, I want to fight for my livihood and keep manufacturing industry in this country.
Contrary to suggestions, the Southampton Plant is a profitable undertaking and there is a strong business case to continue large scale production here.
I'm afraid off-shoring is not just about low wages anymore.
With oil at $100+, distance costs money.
Strike action is not the only course of action open to us. Other Ford Plants (Like Cologne who are seeing their Engine assembly being transferred to Romania) are under threat and any action would likely be co-ordinated, short and decisive.
I am not a Turkey voting for Christmas, I am a Christian voting for my job not to go to Turkey!

ok I admit that was a a great pun!

Andy Locks Heath wrote:
ok I admit that was a a great pun!

I thank yew! ;)

another repeat story good good