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| 1,160 Bridgend Ford jobs projected in leaked document | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ford is projecting a reduction of 1,160 workers by 2021, according to a leaked document from the company seen by BBC Wales. | |
| Mass meetings are being held at Ford's Bridgend engine plant later. | |
| The projection, which would leave 600 workers at the site, is based on the assumption that it is unable to bring any new work in. | |
| Ford said it would not comment on leaked documents but is preparing a revised statement. | |
| Ford jobs: Live updates | |
| It said earlier jobs would stay at similar levels "in the upcoming years". | |
| The American car giant currently manufactures 655,000 engines in Bridgend but the contracts for these are coming to an end and there is only guaranteed work for 125,000 in future. | |
| The document says the plant is underperforming in comparison to similar sites including at Dagenham in Essex. | |
| Overtime levels at Bridgend are more than double Dagenham's rates, which adds 6% to the cost of the engines produced. | |
| It attributes this to absence, non-performance and work practices including paying staff allowances they are not entitled to and regular job rotation. | |
| The document adds that finding future work for Bridgend will be subject to improvements in performance. | |
| 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. |
| The Unite union called a mass meeting at Bridgend amid concerns for the long term future for the plant. | |
| Officials for the First Minister said earlier on Wednesday 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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." | "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. | But pressed on the issue of jobs, an official told BBC Wales that they had nothing more to add to their statement. |
| Opposition AMs from Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives have called for Carwyn Jones to travel to Detroit so he can speak to Ford executives. | |
| Plaid's economy spokesman Adam Price told BBC Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf programme: "We've got to get confirmation one way or another with the company". | |
| His Welsh Conservative counterpart Russell George said: "The first minister must now drop any engagements he has in Washington and travel straight to Detroit to speak with Ford executives and seek assurances over the Bridgend plant's long-term future." |