Top Ford boss, John Fleming, says Transit is staying

9:55am Saturday 29th November 2008

By Simon Carr

THE giant Transit plant is definitely staying in Southampton, a top Ford boss guaranteed MPs at a top-level meeting.

However, Ford of Europe chief John Fleming claimed the Swaythling factory will need to be downsized and it is “very likely” that jobs will go.

At the crunch talks yesterday he said the plant was losing money but survival would be possible by slashing output from 75,000 vehicles to just 35,000 chassis cabs and exporting production of the iconic Transit to Turkey, first revealed by the Daily Echo in July.

He said the company was still committed to a long-term future in Southampton and would be making a multi-million pound investment in the facility.

MPs Alan Whitehead, Sandra Gidley and Chris Huhne and South East England MEP Sharon Bowles met Mr Fleming.

They said Mr Fleming said he had still not ruled out the possibility that the factory will continue to run at the current level with a workforce of 1,100 if savings could be made from elsewhere in the UK operation.

However, the plan to slash production would only require a day shift. The company hopes that because of the age profile of the workforce job losses will come from voluntary redundancies and people leaving. Where possible it will retrain staff.

Liberal Democrat MP for Romsey, Mrs Gidley, said: “I was surprised at how direct he was and he told us the company could not expect anything more from the Southampton workers whose hard work they valued.

“We now have a much better understanding with Ford and the bosses know that we will do whatever we can to save jobs. He said the figures on job losses were being worked out but they would do all they could to avoid losses.”

Fellow Lib Dem MP for Eastleigh Mr Huhne said: “He has given a guarantee that the company will continue to have a presence at Swaythling beyond 2011 and at least half the 1,100 jobs will be saved.

“I asked what chance there was the company’s American management would reject his plan and he told us that had never happened in the past.”

Labour MP for Southampton Test, Mr Whitehead, said: “This is limited good news insofar as there will definitely still be a Ford plant operating to some extent after 2011 but it is far cry from the production levels of the plant in the past.

“I hope over the next month or so we can work with Ford and the Government to see how this guarantee can be built on to protect as many jobs in Southampton as possible.”

Lib Dem MEP for South East England, Sharon Bowles, said: “Of particular importance is whether there will be a positive outcome to proposals for loans to Europe’s car industry from the European Investment Bank. I have discussed what assistance I can give to Southampton from the European end.

“It will be all hands on deck because we’re all committed to a future for Southampton’s Ford workers.”

A Ford spokesman said the company would not be commenting on the meetings but an employee bulletin would be sent out in a few days.