Worker hits out at managers for ‘inefficiencies’ at Ford plant
FORD managers are “blaming” shop-floor staff for the under-performance of the Bridgend engine plant when they are responsible for inefficiencies that are jeopardising its future, a worker has claimed.
He claimed “poor working practices” imposed by managers have interfered with production flow, upset some of the 1,760 staff and have also led them to “buy their own tools”.
Earlier this month Ford revealed it might cut more than 1,100 jobs by 2021 once the production of two engines ceases.
It has also cut the level of investment in the new Dragon engine, reducing the workforce required to produce it.
And a leaked company document stated overtime levels, which are double that of their other plant in Dagenham, were adding 6% to the costs of engines produced at the factory.
It blamed the plant’s under performance on absence, non-performance and work practices including paying staff allowances they are not entitled to and regular job rotation.
Ford has said that “winning new product contracts depends on the plant’s efficiency and global competitiveness”.
But the shop-floor worker, who didn’t wish to be named, claimed “overtime costs have been manipulated in order to show us in a bad light”.
He said sickness absence cover to make up the correct number of personnel to safely and efficiently run the lines has been counted as overtime.
He also said that overtime, whether scheduled or unscheduled, “generates profit”.
He further claimed that an “inefficient” system whereby only senior managers can approve the removal of tools from stores, matter of unscheduled overtime continues to be an important topic for our joint company/union discussions on the competitive performance of the plant and the company remains committed to constructive dialogue in this regard.
Mr Pearson adds: “In order to avoid a further escalation of this matter, I would strongly encourage all employees to resume normal engagement and cease the unofficial overtime ban currently in place with immediate effect.”
A Ford spokesman said: “We announced in September last year that we were taking the option to invest an initial £100m of an approved investment to build a family of all-new, technologically-advanced petrol engines at Bridgend from late 2018.
“The anticipated production volume of engines from Bridgend remains healthy in the upcoming years, with associated labour requirements expected to be similar to today’s level.
“Bridgend must fulfil its commitment in terms of delivery, quality and cost of the products it manufactures and – just as in the case for every Ford plant around the world – winning new product contracts depends on the plant’s efficiency and global competitiveness. Our recent letter to employees clearly reinforced this point.
“The company remains committed to on-going constructive dialogue with our union partners.”
The worker said: “We are looking at the catastrophic closure of Ford Bridgend and I am frustrated by the fact that they (management) seem very, very willing to place the blame on us and also very unwilling to respond to any of our concerns.”