Ford plans to axe 1,150 jobs in Britain

LONDON: Ford plans to cut 1,150 jobs in Britain, the union has announced, one day after the US car giant unveiled a major restructuring of its European operations.

The company on Friday said it planned a major revamp in Europe, including job cuts to boost profitability, but did not specify numbers. It hinted at possible cuts in France, Germany and Russia.

“The plans are for a total of 1,150 job losses in the UK,” Britain’s largest union Unite said in a statement.

Unite said it had been briefed regarding plans to axe 1,000 positions in two stages over two years at Ford’s Bridgend engine plant in Wales.

The remaining cuts would be at Ford’s transport operations, affecting lorry drivers across the UK, the union added.

“It is a devastating blow for our members and their families, as well as having grave implications for the Welsh economy and the supply chain,” Des Quinn, Unite national officer for automotive industries, said in a statement.

Also on Friday, Jaguar Land Rover said it would axe about 4,500 mostly UK jobs after a slump in Chinese sales last year.

Automakers are suffering from a major slide in sales of diesel cars.

This is forcing companies like Ford to invest heavily in new technology to meet fast-growing demand for greener electric vehicles.