Daily Echo | In Depth | Archive of important stories affecting Southampton & Hampshire

60 years of Ford at Swaythling

8:07am Thursday 25th October 2012

Southampton’S Ford factory first opened in Swaythling in 1953 and after the first van rolled off the production line in 1972 it quickly became known as the ‘Home of the Transit’.

Union bosses accuse Ford of behaving disgracefully

2:10pm Thursday 25th October 2012

Union bosses today accused Ford of behaving "disgracefully" over the closure of the plant.

Ford: Why we're closing Southampton - the official statement

1:14pm Thursday 25th October 2012

Ford today released this statement confirming it would close Southampton's Transit factory.

Union leaders called for Ford plant talks

7:18am Thursday 25th October 2012

Union leaders who have been called to a meeting with Ford bosses this morning amid fears for the future of its Southampton factory said it was a “very worrying time” for staff.

Have your say

MP demands Commons debate over Ford plant future

7:10am Thursday 25th October 2012

AN URGENT debate in the House of Commons is being called for in light of the expected announcement by Ford today.

Ford workers speak of shock

6:05am Thursday 25th October 2012

A CLOUD of uncertainty today hangs over the future of Southampton’s iconic Ford plant.

Closure fears for Southampton Ford factory

12:58pm Wednesday 24th October 2012

Ford could be set to announce the closure of its Southampton plant tomorrow, it has been reported.

Threat of strike at Ford still looming

3:39pm Thursday 17th March 2011

A STRIKE threat still looms over Southampton’s Ford factory after union bosses rejected what they called a “cynical bribe” to end a pensions dispute.

Pensions row continues at Ford

1:21pm Wednesday 16th March 2011

A ROW over pensions is still raging after union leaders and Ford bosses failed to reach an agreement.

Future of Ford - In depth

Retired Ford staff in pensions protest

10:50am Wednesday 16th March 2011

UP to 100 retired Ford workers are due to descend on the firm’s UK headquarters and European base over plans to cut pensions.

Boom in demand for Transits boosts factory

2:47pm Tuesday 22nd February 2011

PRODUCTION of the Southampton-built Ford Transit is surging back to near full capacity, according to company bosses.

Ford's £1.5bn investment will safeguard jobs

11:50am Tuesday 13th July 2010

FORD workers in Southampton are today celebrating after ministers backed the motor giant’s £1.5 billion-investment plan that secures jobs building the next generation of “green” vehicles.

Ford reaffirms Transit van production until 2012

7:54am Wednesday 31st March 2010

MOTOR giant Ford has reaffirmed it's commitment to produce its Transit vans at its Swaythling site up until 2012.

£1.5bn may protect Ford jobs

12:12pm Friday 19th March 2010

A MASSIVE £1.5 billion investment could protect Ford jobs, claim bosses.

New face at Ford is silent about future

10:18am Monday 1st March 2010

MEET the new boss of hundreds of Southampton Ford workers, who takes over at the Swaythling Transit plant today.

Ford’s back in the black

12:30pm Saturday 30th January 2010

TRANSIT maker Ford is back in the black for the first time in four years.

Ford bosses' bombshell ‘a slap in face’

9:57am Thursday 10th December 2009

UNION bosses say workers at the giant Southampton Ford plant have been “slapped in the face” by Ford’s management, who have refused to guarantee the long-term future of the plant.

Workers must fight for the future of Ford

12:22pm Wednesday 9th December 2009

SOUTHAMPTON’S 500 remaining Ford workers will have to fight to safeguard the city’s Transit plant, a top boss said.

Ford workers return after factory’s third shutdown

9:34am Monday 2nd November 2009

WORKERS at the giant Southampton Ford plant are returning today after their third shutdown in a year.

Only 200 extra Transits made due to scrappage scheme

12:10pm Tuesday 6th October 2009

JUST 200 extra Transit vans have been built at Southampton’s giant Ford factory as a result of the Governments' scrappage scheme, it has been revealed.

Second shutdown is agreed at Ford plant

9:00am Friday 31st July 2009

A SECOND shutdown is planned at the giant Southampton Ford plant, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The future of Ford - In Depth

Workers vote to strike at Ford Transit plant

7:20am Tuesday 7th July 2009

STRIKE action has been demanded by more than 90 contract workers at the giant Southampton Ford plant.

Ford in shadow of strike threats

10:19am Friday 3rd July 2009

STRIKE threats loom over the Ford factory as more than 100 contract workers vote on industrial action.

Southampton's Ford boss promoted

7:47pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

THE MAN who oversaw the halving of the workforce at Southampton’s Ford plant has been promoted to a top post at an overseas factory.

Ex-Transit worker takes battle to EU

10:06am Saturday 2nd May 2009

HE spent three decades putting together iconic Transit vans and is now fighting for the political power to safeguard their future at the Southampton plant.

End of an era for Southampton Ford staff

9:24am Friday 1st May 2009

IT IS the end of an era for a major Hampshire employer today as more than 500 workers at the giant Ford plant will walk through the gates for the last time.

Union protests over Ford subsidiary’s job losses

9:27am Monday 27th April 2009

CAMPAIGNERS fighting against job losses at Ford subsidiary company Visteon took up banners and posters to protest outside a Southampton car showroom as part of a national day of action.

Pensioner's anger at PM's response to Ford petition

9:18am Monday 30th March 2009

A HAMPSHIRE grandmother has branded the Prime Minister’s response to her plea to the Government to step in and help Ford as “disgraceful.”

£100,000 pay-offs for Ford workers

6:10pm Monday 23rd March 2009

SOME Ford workers could be looking at a £100,000 pay day when they walk out of Southampton’s Transit plant for the last time in May.

Future of Ford - In Depth

Ford swamped with redundancy requests

10:29am Thursday 19th March 2009

FORD bosses have been swamped by workers requesting redundancy from the Southampton Transit factory as news of a further three-week shutdown hits the shop floor.

Ford jobs fallout across Hampshire

5:00pm Monday 16th March 2009

THE full force of the Ford job cuts can be felt across Hampshire today, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Advice on offer for Ford staff facing the axe

9:44am Friday 6th March 2009

FORD bosses are today giving workers facing the axe at the company’s Southampton plant a day of support services to help them find new jobs.

Ford is committed to city, vows boss

7:27am Wednesday 11th February 2009

FORD has given the “clearest assurance yet” that it will keep a manufacturing base in Southampton.

Future of Ford - In Depth

Ford workers who go voluntarily 'would get about £30,000'

4:50pm Monday 9th February 2009

FORD workers could get more than a year’s salary if they take voluntary redundancy, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Future of Ford - In Depth

Black day in the history of Ford in Southampton

2:29pm Friday 6th February 2009

THE full impact of the devastating job cuts at Southampton’s Ford factory will have disastrous repercussions on the local economy, it is feared.

Ford axes 500 jobs in Southampton

4:00pm Thursday 5th February 2009

FORD is to axe almost half of its Southampton workforce, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Transit job cuts - Ford statement

9:35am Thursday 5th February 2009

FORD bosses today explained why they are axing 500 Hampshire jobs.

Transit jobs axe is "tragic for city" says MP

8:00am Thursday 5th February 2009

A Hampshire MP described the decision to axe hundreds of jobs at Ford in Southampton as "tragic".

Leaked memo casts doubt over Ford site

7:10pm Monday 26th January 2009

A HUGE question mark has today been thrown over the future of Southampton’s giant Ford plant, warn union bosses.

Future of Ford - In Depth

Fears of further cuts at Ford plant

10:00am Friday 23rd January 2009

FEARS are growing of further production cuts at Southampton’s giant Ford plant.

Future of Ford - In Depth

Ford workers face single shifts

10:40am Wednesday 14th January 2009

PRODUCTION cuts could spell disaster for Ford workers, claim union bosses.

Ford announce new double blow for workers

9:10am Tuesday 13th January 2009

FORD workers were today dealt a devastating double body blow.

The future of Ford - In Depth

Ford workers fear bosses will reveal plans to run Transit plant on single shift

1:40pm Monday 12th January 2009

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.

FORD stories - In Depth

Ford: We don’t need Government cash

6:20pm Saturday 20th December 2008

FORD bosses who hold the future of the giant Southampton Transit factory in their hands can afford to turn down the offer of Government cash, it has emerged.

MPs debate future of Ford plant in parliament

2:56pm Wednesday 17th December 2008

A TOP-LEVEL debate is being held in parliament today over the future of Southampton Ford factory and the motor manufacturing industry as a whole.

Future of Ford - In Depth

Cash-strapped Christmas for staff of Ford supplier

10:53am Tuesday 16th December 2008

WORKERS for a major supplier of Southampton’s troubled Ford Transit plant face a cash-strapped Christmas after learning they would barely be paid during a four-week winter shutdown.

Ford union leaders to meet local MPs

1:20pm Monday 15th December 2008

UNION leaders from Southampton’s struggling Ford plant are today meeting with local MPs who are fighting for the site’s future.

Don’t panic over failed bail out – Ford bosses

11:52am Saturday 13th December 2008

FEARS the collapse of a of a multi-billion dollar bail out for the US car industry could spark job losses across the Atlantic in Southampton, were rejected by Ford.

US Senate throws out £9bn car industry rescue

8:03am Friday 12th December 2008

FORD bosses were reeling today after a £9bn emergency rescue plan for the big three US car manufacturers collapsed in the US Senate last night.

Car industry debate is still on the cards

5:10am Sunday 7th December 2008

THE GOVERNMENT has promised to consider holding an emergency Parliamentary debate on the future of the British car industry in light of the troubles at Ford in Southampton.

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