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| 1,100 Bridgend Ford jobs to go says union | 1,100 Bridgend Ford jobs to go says union |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Mass meetings will be held at Ford's Bridgend engine plant later amid claims by the Unite union that 1,160 jobs will go by 2021. | Mass meetings will be held at Ford's Bridgend engine plant later amid claims by the Unite union that 1,160 jobs will go by 2021. |
| Ford has refused to be drawn on the comments - stating jobs would stay at similar levels "in the upcoming years". | |
| A decision to cut investment in a new Dragon engine project was announced in September. | A decision to cut investment in a new Dragon engine project was announced in September. |
| Officials for the First Minister said the union's concerns were "clearly deeply concerning" | |
| "We are actively seeking urgent assurances from Ford - both in the UK and US," said a spokesman. | "We are actively seeking urgent assurances from Ford - both in the UK and US," said a spokesman. |
| "We are also speaking to the workforce through the trades unions and offering them every assistance. | "We are also speaking to the workforce through the trades unions and offering them every assistance. |
| "We have worked very closely with Ford over a number of years to secure a future for the Bridgend plant, and we remain committed to supporting these vital manufacturing jobs." | "We have worked very closely with Ford over a number of years to secure a future for the Bridgend plant, and we remain committed to supporting these vital manufacturing jobs." |
| Carwyn Jones is currently in the United States on a trade mission in Washington DC, where a £20m plane engine maintenance contract with GE Aviation for Wales has been unveiled. | Carwyn Jones is currently in the United States on a trade mission in Washington DC, where a £20m plane engine maintenance contract with GE Aviation for Wales has been unveiled. |
| The Unite union has called on Ford bosses to produce a five-year plan for the Bridgend factory. | |
| It said meetings being held on Wednesday meant workers were "one step closer to strike action in defence of their jobs". | It said meetings being held on Wednesday meant workers were "one step closer to strike action in defence of their jobs". |
| Unite's Welsh secretary Andy Richards accused Ford bosses of "weasel words" on plans for the future of the factory. | |
| He told BBC Wales: "It's our belief that Ford are going to have to confirm this morning that when the Jaguar engine finishes there in 2020 there is no future business plan for the plant. | |
| "And we believe our concerns are going to be realised - that two-thirds of the plant - that's at least 1,160 jobs will be at risk." | |
| 'Stunned' | 'Stunned' |
| Madeleine Moon, the MP for Bridgend, told BBC Wales she had spoken to Ford officials on Tuesday, and there had been no mention of job losses. | Madeleine Moon, the MP for Bridgend, told BBC Wales she had spoken to Ford officials on Tuesday, and there had been no mention of job losses. |
| She said the latest development "has completely blindsided me". | She said the latest development "has completely blindsided me". |
| Speaking on Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales, she added: "I am absolutely stunned. As far as I understood Ford were trying to find more work at Bridgend - nothing was said about job losses." | Speaking on Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales, she added: "I am absolutely stunned. As far as I understood Ford were trying to find more work at Bridgend - nothing was said about job losses." |
| The plant currently makes 250,000 engines a year for Jaguar Land Rover and also 500,000 of Ford's own Sigma engines but it is due to stop producing both in 2018. | The plant currently makes 250,000 engines a year for Jaguar Land Rover and also 500,000 of Ford's own Sigma engines but it is due to stop producing both in 2018. |
| Five months ago, Ford announced Dragon production would be cut to 125,000 engines a year and investment would reduce from £181m to £100m. | Five months ago, Ford announced Dragon production would be cut to 125,000 engines a year and investment would reduce from £181m to £100m. |
| The Welsh Government promised £15m state aid on the condition 500 jobs would be secured. | The Welsh Government promised £15m state aid on the condition 500 jobs would be secured. |
| Responding to Unite's concerns, Ford said: "We once again reiterated that the anticipated production volume of engines from Bridgend remains healthy in the upcoming years, with associated labour requirements expected to be similar to today's level. | |
| "Bridgend must fulfil its commitment in terms of delivery, quality and cost of the products it manufactures and - just as in the case for every Ford plant around the world - winning new product contracts depends on the plant's efficiency and global competitiveness." | |
| But pressed on the issue of jobs, an official told BBC Wales that they had nothing more to add to their statement. |