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| 900 jobs go as Bosch quits Wales | 900 jobs go as Bosch quits Wales |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The motor parts manufacturer Bosch says it will close its south Wales plant in 2011, with the loss of all 900 jobs. | The motor parts manufacturer Bosch says it will close its south Wales plant in 2011, with the loss of all 900 jobs. |
| Management of the German-owned company spent Thursday informing the workforce, following three months of consultation. | |
| Plans being considered at the site in Miskin, near Cardiff, had included the option of 300 job cuts or complete closure. | |
| The firm said it had now decided to recommend closure to its board, transferring work to Hungary. | The firm said it had now decided to recommend closure to its board, transferring work to Hungary. |
| In a statement, it said consultations are now being extended until February, as unions and staff attempt to thrash out redundancy terms. | In a statement, it said consultations are now being extended until February, as unions and staff attempt to thrash out redundancy terms. |
| "I deeply regret that we could not find a solution for the Cardiff plant," said Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, president of the Bosch starter motors division. | "I deeply regret that we could not find a solution for the Cardiff plant," said Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, president of the Bosch starter motors division. |
| "I have spent time in a previous role as plant manager in Cardiff and I know first-hand the dedication and commitment of the employees here. | "I have spent time in a previous role as plant manager in Cardiff and I know first-hand the dedication and commitment of the employees here. |
| "Therefore, this is for me personally one of the toughest decisions in my career." | "Therefore, this is for me personally one of the toughest decisions in my career." |
| I think everyone is bitterly disappointed that there's not a hope of something being retained at Cardiff David Lewis, Unite | I think everyone is bitterly disappointed that there's not a hope of something being retained at Cardiff David Lewis, Unite |
| The company said it was facing the worst economic downturn for decades, saying that this had "left its mark on the Bosch Group". | The company said it was facing the worst economic downturn for decades, saying that this had "left its mark on the Bosch Group". |
| It said that compared to 2008, sales of its alternator products made at the site in Miskin were down 45% in 2009. | It said that compared to 2008, sales of its alternator products made at the site in Miskin were down 45% in 2009. |
| "Without structural adjustment the long-term commercial future of the whole division is at serious risk," added Dr Asenkerschbaumer. | "Without structural adjustment the long-term commercial future of the whole division is at serious risk," added Dr Asenkerschbaumer. |
| Bosch warned the workforce in September last year that jobs were at risk unless demand and sales improved. | Bosch warned the workforce in September last year that jobs were at risk unless demand and sales improved. |
| In 2008, the firm laid off 600 contracted and agency staff at the site. | In 2008, the firm laid off 600 contracted and agency staff at the site. |
| Announcing the 90-day consultation in October, it warned that it expected a sales decline to continue, slashed by up to 65% in 2010. | Announcing the 90-day consultation in October, it warned that it expected a sales decline to continue, slashed by up to 65% in 2010. |
| The union Unite, which represents much of the workforce at the site, which lies just outside Cardiff, said it had spent the last three months in detailed discussions with the company, in a bid to save the plant. | The union Unite, which represents much of the workforce at the site, which lies just outside Cardiff, said it had spent the last three months in detailed discussions with the company, in a bid to save the plant. |
| Nick Servini, BBC Wales business correspondent This announcement comes at a time when, ironically, most people felt the worst of the job losses were behind us in this recession. | Nick Servini, BBC Wales business correspondent This announcement comes at a time when, ironically, most people felt the worst of the job losses were behind us in this recession. |
| It should act as a sharp reminder about how difficult any economic recovery will be if a blue chip manufacturer like Bosch is pulling out of Wales next year. | It should act as a sharp reminder about how difficult any economic recovery will be if a blue chip manufacturer like Bosch is pulling out of Wales next year. |
| And the shockwaves will be felt in many communities as workers travel to this huge plant from all over south Wales. | And the shockwaves will be felt in many communities as workers travel to this huge plant from all over south Wales. |
| The blame game will inevitably begin now. Most people accept that Bosch was in a difficult position as a result of the huge fall in sales. | The blame game will inevitably begin now. Most people accept that Bosch was in a difficult position as a result of the huge fall in sales. |
| But critics will claim that the Miskin plant was always vulnerable with investment in the new generation of alternators going to other countries. | But critics will claim that the Miskin plant was always vulnerable with investment in the new generation of alternators going to other countries. |
| Regional officer, David Lewis, said: "We'd asked the company to look at alternative production means - they say they have done that. | Regional officer, David Lewis, said: "We'd asked the company to look at alternative production means - they say they have done that. |
| "There is no opportunity there because the markets in whichever section that we talked about has unfortunately been adversely affected. | "There is no opportunity there because the markets in whichever section that we talked about has unfortunately been adversely affected. |
| "The work simply isn't there - there's overcapacity in a great number of divisions of Bosch." | "The work simply isn't there - there's overcapacity in a great number of divisions of Bosch." |
| Mr Lewis said he understood that the factory would now close in the summer of 2011. | Mr Lewis said he understood that the factory would now close in the summer of 2011. |
| "The truth is that when the company made the (consultation) announcement in October of last year that the vast majority of employees felt there wasn't too much that we could do," said Mr Lewis. | "The truth is that when the company made the (consultation) announcement in October of last year that the vast majority of employees felt there wasn't too much that we could do," said Mr Lewis. |
| "I think everyone is bitterly disappointed that there's not a hope of something being retained. | "I think everyone is bitterly disappointed that there's not a hope of something being retained. |
| "The company confirmed that they have a very skilled, a good workforce, but that doesn't take away from the destruction of people's livelihoods and the difficulties for their families. | "The company confirmed that they have a very skilled, a good workforce, but that doesn't take away from the destruction of people's livelihoods and the difficulties for their families. |
| "So, they are completely and utterly bereft I think of what they can see for the future." | "So, they are completely and utterly bereft I think of what they can see for the future." |
| Responding to the announcement, Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the assembly government was pledging its full support to the affected Bosch workers. | Responding to the announcement, Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the assembly government was pledging its full support to the affected Bosch workers. |
| Bosch is situated in the M4 corridor in south Wales | Bosch is situated in the M4 corridor in south Wales |
| "This is extremely disappointing news and a significant blow to the hard working and highly-skilled employees of Bosch and the wider community," he said. | "This is extremely disappointing news and a significant blow to the hard working and highly-skilled employees of Bosch and the wider community," he said. |
| "We have regularly met with senior representatives of the company, and today I met with them again to press the case for keeping the plant open. Despite our efforts, we deeply regret that Bosch have come to this decision to proceed with the option to phase out production. | "We have regularly met with senior representatives of the company, and today I met with them again to press the case for keeping the plant open. Despite our efforts, we deeply regret that Bosch have come to this decision to proceed with the option to phase out production. |
| "If this decision goes through, we will continue to do everything possible to help those affected, whether it is helping them find new jobs or gain new skills so they can start alternative careers." | "If this decision goes through, we will continue to do everything possible to help those affected, whether it is helping them find new jobs or gain new skills so they can start alternative careers." |
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