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850 jobs go at Mini car factory | 850 jobs go at Mini car factory |
(about 3 hours 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 agency workers who did the weekend shift at the factory have lost their jobs, with immediate effect, prompting an angry announcement from unions. | All agency workers who did the weekend shift at the factory have lost their jobs, with immediate effect, prompting an angry announcement from unions. |
The site is closing for a week amid falling sales in the economic downturn. | The site is closing for a week amid falling sales in the economic downturn. |
The carmaker also said it had identified 150 surplus workers at its Mini plant in Swindon. | The carmaker also said it had identified 150 surplus workers at its Mini plant in Swindon. |
The workers will be offered a transfer to work in Oxford, it added. | The workers will be offered a transfer to work in Oxford, it added. |
Job losses | Job losses |
Work at the Cowley plant will not restart until 23 February. The changing shift patterns, and the resulting job losses, will come into force on 2 March. | Work at the Cowley plant will not restart until 23 February. The changing shift patterns, and the resulting job losses, will come into force on 2 March. |
"Mini plant Oxford will be bringing in a new shift pattern in response to continuing volatile market conditions," a BMW statement said. | "Mini plant Oxford will be bringing in a new shift pattern in response to continuing volatile market conditions," a BMW statement said. |
Angry casual BMW Mini workers clash with union officials | Angry casual BMW Mini workers clash with union officials |
"As of Monday 2 March, the plant will go from a three-shift to a two-shift pattern, operating five days per week instead of the current seven." | "As of Monday 2 March, the plant will go from a three-shift to a two-shift pattern, operating five days per week instead of the current seven." |
"The company regrets that this change will result in the release of around 850 agency workers from the business," it added. | "The company regrets that this change will result in the release of around 850 agency workers from the business," it added. |
BMW had said that all staff at the factory, including remaining agency workers, would be paid their basic wages during the closure. | BMW had said that all staff at the factory, including remaining agency workers, would be paid their basic wages during the closure. |
However, many agency workers said they were unclear what the future held after being told the weekend shift had been axed. | However, many agency workers said they were unclear what the future held after being told the weekend shift had been axed. |
'A disgrace' | 'A disgrace' |
Javid Najibi said he had been told to leave after four years at the plant and that he was likely to get no payout. | Javid Najibi said he had been told to leave after four years at the plant and that he was likely to get no payout. |
CUTTING BACK Aston Martin: Extended Christmas shutdown and 600 redundancies. Temporary three-day week began in JanuaryBentley: Worked a three-day week in October and longer Christmas break. Closing Crewe plant for seven weeks from the beginning of MarchGM (Vauxhall): Extended Christmas closure and 40-day shutdownHonda: Four-month shutdown between February and MayJaguar Land Rover: Series of one-day shutdowns and production cuts late 2008 plus 450 redundancies plannedNissan: Two-week shutdown late last year and 1,200 redundancies Toyota: One of the night shifts suspended Source: SMMT href="/1/hi/business/7892174.stm">Sacked Mini workers express angerQ&A: Agency workers' rights | |
"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. | "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 that he felt like a "second class" employee compared to the permanent staff. | Another agency worker told the BBC that he felt like a "second class" employee compared to the permanent staff. |
"It's a disgrace," he said. | "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." | "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 was in discussions with Unite union representatives over changes to shift patterns at the plant. | A Mini spokesperson had confirmed at the weekend that the company was in 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. | "Our first priority is to communicate with the workforce," the spokesperson had said. |
'Angry and upset' | 'Angry and upset' |
However, staff were angry about the way in which they were told about their job losses. | However, staff were angry about the way in which they were told about their job losses. |
Bernard Moss, from the union Unite said: "[The workers] obviously weren't very happy and the biggest issue was being told one hour from the end of the shift that they hadn't got a job." | Bernard Moss, from the union Unite said: "[The workers] obviously weren't very happy and the biggest issue was being told one hour from the end of the shift that they hadn't got a job." |
Reaction from workers to the job losses | Reaction from workers to the job losses |
Worker Silvia Fernandes said: "I've been here for four years and I've never been sick, I've never missed work and they tell me one hour before that I've been sacked. That's not on. | Worker Silvia Fernandes said: "I've been here for four years and I've never been sick, I've never missed work and they tell me one hour before that I've been sacked. That's not on. |
"That's why people are angry and so upset with BMW and the union." | "That's why people are angry and so upset with BMW and the union." |
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. |
Global slowdown | Global slowdown |
BMW, like most carmakers across the world, has been struggling in the face of falling sales during the economic downturn. | BMW, like most carmakers across the world, has been struggling in the face of falling sales during the economic downturn. |
Overall, BMW sales fell by 4.3% in 2008, to 1.4 million vehicles, although Mini sales actually rose by 4.3% last year, to 232,425 cars. | Overall, BMW sales fell by 4.3% in 2008, to 1.4 million vehicles, although Mini sales actually rose by 4.3% last year, to 232,425 cars. |
The carmaker is the latest in a long line of car manufacturers in the UK to announce plant closures and redundancies. | The carmaker is the latest in a long line of car manufacturers in the UK to announce plant closures and redundancies. |
For example, Honda has closed its plant in Swindon for four months between February and May. | For example, Honda has closed its plant in Swindon for four months between February and May. |
Do you work at the factory? Are you affected by the job cuts? Send us your views using the form below. | Do you work at the factory? Are you affected by the job cuts? Send us your views using the form below. |