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Honda Swindon plant jobs cut in shift changes Honda Swindon plant jobs cut in shift changes
(about 3 hours later)
Carmaker Honda plans to cut production at its Swindon factory from three shifts to two, threatening 340 jobs. Carmaker Honda is planning to cut production at its Swindon factory, with 500 jobs under threat.
Workers were told at the end of shift on Monday that car plant two would be closing with the loss of jobs, including 160 temporary positions. Workers were told on Monday that car plant two would be closing with the loss of 340 jobs, along with up to 160 temporary positions.
The Japanese carmaker, which opened in Swindon in 1992, made 38 compulsory and 554 voluntary redundancies last year.The Japanese carmaker, which opened in Swindon in 1992, made 38 compulsory and 554 voluntary redundancies last year.
Ian Howells, from Honda, said: "Over the last 12 months, we haven't seen the growth we'd anticipated."Ian Howells, from Honda, said: "Over the last 12 months, we haven't seen the growth we'd anticipated."
The cuts come as the plant changed from three shifts a day to two.
About 3,000 workers are based at the South Marston plant, building the Civic, Jazz and CR-V for the UK and European markets.About 3,000 workers are based at the South Marston plant, building the Civic, Jazz and CR-V for the UK and European markets.
'Too many cars'
But Mr Howells, senior vice president of Honda Motor Europe, said with "no increase forecast" for the next couple of years, the company must "scale our manufacturing activity accordingly".
"We've looked very closely at alternatives but we're faced with a market which at best is growing very, very slowly and we're just producing too many cars at the moment for that demand," he said.
"It's been a very difficult decision to take but we're starting with a release programme that is voluntary and if that does not progress in the way we hope we may be looking at statutory or compulsory redundancies."
According to Mr Howells, 340 "permanent associates" will go over the next two to three months along with a number of temporary staff, who were already "phased to be fully released by the end of the year".
'Very sad news''Very sad news'
But Mr Howells, senior vice president of Honda Motor Europe, said with "no increase forecast" for the next couple of years, the company will "scale our manufacturing activity accordingly". Unite union spokesman, Jim D'Avila, said it was a "blow" that would be "very, very deeply felt".
"With the restructuring we're taking today, and our new model plans, we remain confident in the long-term future of our Swindon plant," he said. "It's very sad news," he said.
"Our Swindon operation continues to be the hub for our European car manufacturing activity." "We were able, 18 months ago, to deal with those surpluses with just a minimum of compulsory redundancies but the likelihood is we won't be able to achieve that this time round."
Unite union spokesman, Jim D'Avila, said it was "very sad news".
"There's going to be 600 jobs going from the Honda site, 340 of those will be direct associates, 160 will be agency staff and the company will also be mothballing plant two," he said.
"This blow today will be very, very deeply felt."
As well as cutting shifts, Honda is also planning to move production to one line in an attempt to "improve production flexibility and efficiency".As well as cutting shifts, Honda is also planning to move production to one line in an attempt to "improve production flexibility and efficiency".
The company said it will enter into consultation on the proposed job cuts. The company said it will be entering into consultation on the proposed job cuts.