Joy turns to anger as firm warns of lay-offs.

Byline: Gerry Holt

WORKERS at Bridgend's Ford plant were reeling today after it emerged that nearly half of the factory's staff could be temporarily laid-off over Christmas.

Just hours after a pounds 70m investment in the plant was announced, staff were sent letters warning them to expect the temporary lay-offs in December.

It has been reported today that up to 800 of the factory's 2,000 staff will be out of a job over the festive period because of the downturn in the global economy. A reduction in shifts for workers is also expected at the plant.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan had claimed yesterday that the investment in next-generation green engines technology at Ford's Bridgend plant was the way forward for the automotive sector.

But after Mr Morgan's claims, it emerged that Ford had sent letters to staff saying: "The plant has seen a significant reduction in the volume of Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo engines it was previously scheduled to build.

"This is a direct consequence of the global instability that we are all experiencing on a daily basis.

"At a special meeting, the company has confirmed that the reduced Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo volumes would lead to temporary lay-offs during the month of December."

Last night, no official announcement about the temporary lay-offs was made.

The news emerged only after Bridgend AM Carwyn Jones was handed a letter by one of the workers. Today, he attacked the way the news was handled and said it had been completely "out of the blue".

"I do regret the fact that the news came out in this way and I regret the fact that, in the short term, there will be temporary lay-offs and a reduction in shifts," he said.

"The investment going into the plant secures it for the medium-term future through these bumpy times.

"But it's unfortunate to say the least that this news has come out in the way that it has, and clearly it will be a very difficult time for families in the run-up to Christmas."

The letter goes on to say that projected volumes for 2009 were "insufficient to sustain the shift patterns currently being worked in several activities" and detailed the planned changes in shifts.

It said lay-offs would begin on December 1 and suggested that staffwould return to work after a month although "indirect employees" used to support the affected areas would be permanently laid off.

It was reported last night that up to 800 workers who worked on Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo engines could be affected and could be earning less while production was stopped.

It is understood that any affected staff will still receive basic pay during the lay-off period.

The company yesterday announced that it would manufacture its 1.6-litre low carbon petrol engines exclusively on the Waterton Industrial Estate in Bridgend.

The move was described by First Minister Rhodri Morgan as a "shaft of life amid the gloom" for the Welsh economy, which has suffered hundreds of job losses across a range of sectors in the last six months.

He said: "Even in a time of doom and gloom we are trying to get industry involved in investment and Ford is investing in new technology."

The Welsh Assembly Government is now expected to issue a fresh comment this morning.

The Ford plant in Bridgend is Wales' third largest manufacturing plant, behind Airbus and Corus at Port Talbot.

Ford has invested more than pounds 300m at Bridgend over the last five years and the additional money announced yesterday will increase the plant's production capability to almost one million engines a year.

It currently employs 2,000 and it was hoped there would be an increase in staff following the latest investment.

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CAPTION(S):

GOOD AND BAD: Ford is investing in its Bridgend factory but also laying off 800 workers. Inset, yesterday's report

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Publication:	South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales)
Geographic Code:	4EUUK
Date:	Oct 29, 2008
Words:	645
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