| Thousands of JCB staff have accepted a shorter working week in order to save about 350 jobs across the UK. | Thousands of JCB staff have accepted a shorter working week in order to save about 350 jobs across the UK. |
| The GMB union said 2,500 of its members in the UK had accepted a 34-hour week by a two-thirds majority. | The GMB union said 2,500 of its members in the UK had accepted a 34-hour week by a two-thirds majority. |
| The firm, based in Rocester, Staffordshire, had said 500 jobs could be axed if the plan was not accepted and 150 jobs will still be cut. | The firm, based in Rocester, Staffordshire, had said 500 jobs could be axed if the plan was not accepted and 150 jobs will still be cut. |
| JCB has 11 factories across the UK and said fewer working hours had been its preferred option. | JCB has 11 factories across the UK and said fewer working hours had been its preferred option. |
| The new working schedule is expected to start next month. | The new working schedule is expected to start next month. |
| JCB said it needed to reduce output across the country by nearly 20% "to align production with current demand". | JCB said it needed to reduce output across the country by nearly 20% "to align production with current demand". |
| JCB workers on the shorter working week | JCB workers on the shorter working week |
| About 430 jobs have already gone at the company in recent months. | About 430 jobs have already gone at the company in recent months. |
| Chief executive officer Matthew Taylor said: "The ballot result shows the tremendous unity amongst the JCB workforce and a great team spirit, which I applaud. | Chief executive officer Matthew Taylor said: "The ballot result shows the tremendous unity amongst the JCB workforce and a great team spirit, which I applaud. |
| "They have looked after the needs of one another rather than the needs of the individual and that is to be commended." | "They have looked after the needs of one another rather than the needs of the individual and that is to be commended." |
| He added: "It means we retain the fundamental strength of our workforce and this is very welcome news as it puts us in a very strong position to take advantage quickly of the upturn in the market when it comes." | He added: "It means we retain the fundamental strength of our workforce and this is very welcome news as it puts us in a very strong position to take advantage quickly of the upturn in the market when it comes." |
| The firm said last week that GMB members had two options - to agree to about 500 redundancies, which would realign production to demand, or agree to a shorter working week which would reduce redundancies by about two-thirds. | The firm said last week that GMB members had two options - to agree to about 500 redundancies, which would realign production to demand, or agree to a shorter working week which would reduce redundancies by about two-thirds. |
| 'Public works' | 'Public works' |
| Speaking after the result of the ballot, the GMB said it hoped office staff would follow the lead of shop floor workers by choosing a reduction in hours. | Speaking after the result of the ballot, the GMB said it hoped office staff would follow the lead of shop floor workers by choosing a reduction in hours. |
| It said the Joint Shop Stewards' Committee was pleased with the outcome. | It said the Joint Shop Stewards' Committee was pleased with the outcome. |
| GMB officer Keith Hodgkinson said: "I am delighted that we have been able to save 350 jobs. | GMB officer Keith Hodgkinson said: "I am delighted that we have been able to save 350 jobs. |
| "The short time is part of a worsening recession and these GMB members expect the government and the Bank of England to take the necessary steps to begin large-scale public works to at least slow the recession down and prevent it getting too deep." | "The short time is part of a worsening recession and these GMB members expect the government and the Bank of England to take the necessary steps to begin large-scale public works to at least slow the recession down and prevent it getting too deep." |
| The union said some of the pay the workers would lose would be made up with the help of money from a government fund. | The union said some of the pay the workers would lose would be made up with the help of money from a government fund. |
| The company said it was pleased with the vote "particularly as it will lead to a reduced number of redundancies and preserve our skills base for when the markets improve". | The company said it was pleased with the vote "particularly as it will lead to a reduced number of redundancies and preserve our skills base for when the markets improve". |
| It added short-time working would begin at JCB's UK production facilities at the start of November for a minimum of six months. | It added short-time working would begin at JCB's UK production facilities at the start of November for a minimum of six months. |
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