HUNDREDS OF JOBS FACE AXE
HUNDREDS of jobs are set to be lost at a Coventry firm within the automotive sector.
Bosses at Liberty Pressing Solutions said the cuts are a direct result of the “unprecedented economic downturn” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A consultation with employees began in June, when it was understood that 150 jobs were at risk.
Now the company has said it will cut 200 jobs.
Bosses have pledged to make the redundancies on a voluntary basis where possible and said they were striving to offer alternative employment elsewhere within the business to those impacted.
Liberty Pressing Solutions, formerly Covpress, manufactures pressings, welded assemblies and chassis.
It’s the latest firm with Coventry’s automotive sector to be hit by the pandemic.
JLR is axing more than 1,000 production line roles in what a union described as a “devastating blow” for the sector and Rolls Royce is cutting around 240 jobs from its sites in Ansty and Solihull.
Both firms have blamed the impact of coronavirus.
A spokesman for GFG Alliance, which runs Liberty Pressing Solutions Coventry, said: “Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic compounding an already challenging automotive market, we have taken the decision to notify employees of our intent to make around 200 redundancies across LIBERTY Pressing Solutions in Coventry.
“Where possible, these redundancies will be achieved on a voluntary basis.
“We will consult closely with employees, and will do everything possible to mitigate the impact.
“Through our Workforce Solutions initiative, we will strive to provide workers impacted with an employment offer as an alternative to voluntary redundancy. Workforce Solutions provides external temporary placements and redeployment within the GFG Alliance as business needs require.”