Unite fights Jaguar job losses
The joint leader of Britain’s biggest trade union has vowed to fight any more job losses at car giant Jaguar Land Rover amid fears of fresh cuts at the firm.
The car maker announced 450 job losses last week and there is mounting speculation that up to 1,300 jobs could be lost because of the slump in vehicle sales.
Talks between unions and managers have been held and the two sides have been appealing to the Government to offer aid to the industry.
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said today: ``At this point in time we will not be accepting a single redundancy at Jaguar Land Rover.
``While we are having discussions with both the company and the Government regarding short-term working and how these workers can be kept in their jobs and off the dole, we will resist all redundancy proposals.
``Clearly, Jaguar Land Rover is facing severe difficulties and urgently needs help, including the commercial loan from the Government which we have been pressing for now for months.
``But our strong view is that these difficulties are short-term and that it would be seriously damaging to the long-term future of the company if we lose skills and workers now, only to pay the price when the upturn in demand comes."
Jaguar Land Rover announced yesterday that it had halted work at its car plant in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, for two weeks.
