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Ford workers fear bosses will reveal plans to run Transit plant on single shift
1:40pm Monday 12th January 2009
Comments (3)A MAJOR announcement, which workers fear could spell mass production and job cuts, will be made to hundreds of Ford workers tomorrow, the Daily Echo can reveal.
Bosses at the motor giant’s Southampton plant are refusing to divulge any details, but it is believed the company could be about to run the factory on a single shift.
Ford has already slashed output several times, introduced a four-day-week and put the plant on an extended shutdown over Christmas.
The company has refused to rule out the possibility of lay-offs but said it always avoids them where possible.
One worker told the Daily Echo: “Everyone has been worried for so long now and production will only be cut so much before they think ‘let’s just close the whole thing down’.”
Another said: “The production cuts have been worrying everyone and it hits us all in the pocket too as we can’t earn the bonus and allowances we used to.”
A third added: “There are always rumours flying about but this feels different to everybody. Morale is as low as it could be at the moment and we are dreading the next bulletin.”
Fears over the future of the Transit factory have been voiced since July last year when the Daily Echo exclusively published a leaked company memo which revealed the company was under review.
Following the bombshell Ford confirmed it had plans – to slash output from 75,000 vehicles a year to 35,000 chassis cabs, cut jobs and export production of the iconic Transit to Turkey – which are expected to be rubber-stamped by top American bosses later this year.
Since then the company has laid off 125 short contract workers and jobs have gone from Ford contractors.
The MPs, union bosses and workers continue to fight to secure the future of the plant and its 1,100-strong workforce.
A Ford spokesman said: “I cannot comment on rumours that we are switching to a single shift but there will be a meeting with workers on Tuesday to discuss our plans.
“We are trying to manage the plant in the most appropriate manner that keeps us flexible enough to respond to a positive upturn.
“I cannot say one way or the other if there will be job cuts but I would stress that we always do what we can to avoid them.
“It is important to point out that production cuts are due to the economic downturn and not the chassis cab plan that has to go before the board later in the year.”
Click here for Ford saga In Depth
Your Say YourDaily Echo
Miles Sway, Scotland says...
11:41am Mon 12 Jan 09
Most businesses are rapidly shelving big investment for the time being, not cancelled, but certainly put on hold for the forseeable future and Ford's considering any new factory on this scale in the current climate is mad. Even when the market does recover (we're assuming it will) it'll be gradual and there will not be an immediate need for many 1000's of new vehicles overnight.
Trouble is, with the US Govt seemingly willing to guarantee countless billions to the US car industry are Ford's really gambling with their own money on this?
goard, Southampton says...
12:41pm Mon 12 Jan 09
Ford workers fear bosses will reveal plans to run Transit plant on single shift
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Son of Fred, Eastleigh says...
10:53am Mon 12 Jan 09
What is surprising is Fords dogged determination to press ahead with production of the new Van.
Who exactly, is going to buy these vehicles?
Does any one really believe Ford Boss, Alan Mullaly when he predicts a turnaround in the market by next? Clearly Ford's investors don't - just look at the share year price!!
Perhaps they remember the previous overly optimistic predictions of company profitability for 2006 and 2009.
Ford need to ask themselves if this the best time to be investing nearly a billion euros in Romaina by building the biggest car plant in Europe producing 300,000 Cars and Vans annually and employing 36,000. Where is the market for these vehicles?
The plan Ford made in 2006 for the new Transit, eastern expansion and the closure of Southampton is now no more than just a fairytale Castle built on sand.
Come on Ford. Climb out of your Ivory Tower and get real. You have got the taste for the champagne lifestyle on lemonade money.You need
a moratorium on the New van and Romanian plant at least til 2015 (many analysts are predicting a decade long slump). You have got to get into survival mode and start conserving cash - and stop burning it on yesterdays projects. You know you can get the concessions you want from Southampton,be it one shift,or whatever - but in return we want a committment from you that the van will stay here for the foreseeable future. Remember, when the market turns it's only going to cost £100 million to retool here. Please wake up before it's too late.