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850 jobs go at Mini car factory 850 jobs go at Mini car factory
(10 minutes later)
BMW has confirmed that 850 jobs are to go at the Cowley plant in Oxford, which makes the Mini, and that weekend working has been scrapped.BMW has confirmed that 850 jobs are to go at the Cowley plant in Oxford, which makes the Mini, and that weekend working has been scrapped.
All workers who did the weekend shift at the factory have lost their jobs with immediate effect.All workers who did the weekend shift at the factory have lost their jobs with immediate effect.
Bosses at Mini had been in discussions with unions over changes to shift patterns at the plant.Bosses at Mini had been in discussions with unions over changes to shift patterns at the plant.
The site is closing for a week after a fall in sales during the economic downturn. The site is closing for a week after a fall in sales as a result of the economic downturn.
It will not restart production until 23 February.It will not restart production until 23 February.
All staff at the factory, including remaining agency workers, will be paid their basic wages during the closure. BMW had said that all staff at the factory, including remaining agency workers, will be paid their basic wages during the closure.
A Mini spokesperson confirmed that the company had held discussions with Unite union representatives over changes to shift patterns at the plant. However, many agency workers said they were unclear what the future held after being told the weekend shift had been axed.
"Our first priority is to communicate with the workforce," the spokesperson said. Javid Najibi said he had been told to leave after four years at the plant and that he was likely to get no payout.
'A disgrace'
"It's bad news for everybody. There's no work any more for the weekend shift. No-one knows about the future plans," he said.
Another agency worker told the BBC he felt a "second class" employee compared to the permanent staff.
"It's a disgrace," he said.
"I've worked here for three-and-a-half years and now I'm being sacked for no reason. I've been used."
A Mini spokesperson had confirmed at the weekend that the company had held discussions with Unite union representatives over changes to shift patterns at the plant.
"Our first priority is to communicate with the workforce," the spokesperson had said.
The company's 4,500 staff had returned to work on 5 January after an extended four-week Christmas holiday.The company's 4,500 staff had returned to work on 5 January after an extended four-week Christmas holiday.
In December, 300 agency staff were told there would be no more work for them at the plant after the Christmas holiday.In December, 300 agency staff were told there would be no more work for them at the plant after the Christmas holiday.
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