5,000 could ‘face axe’ in new year, says report
JAGUAR Land Rover could cut 5,000 of jobs in the New Year as it tries to save billions of pounds, national newspaper reports claimed this week.
The carmaker has already cut some jobs as it copes with uncertainty over Brexit and the future of diesel cars, as well as with falling sales in China.
In September, Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth warned that a no-deal Brexit could put thousands of jobs in the UK motor industry at risk. His warning was echoed last week by Knowsley Council’s leader, who said he was worried about what Brexit could mean for the thousands of workers at JLR’s Halewood plant in Liverpool.
In October, the company said it needed to make another £2.5 billion in savings after market conditions, “particularly those in China”, had worsened.
The company employs 40,000 people in the UK, mostly in the West Midlands.
Jobs have also gone this year at the company’s Solihull plant.
JLR said: “Jaguar Land Rover notes media speculation about the potential impact of its ongoing charge and accelerate transformation programmes.
“As announced when we published our second-quarter results, these programmes aim to deliver £2.5 billion of cost, cash and profit improvements over the next two years. Jaguar Land Rover does not comment on rumours concerning any part of these plans.”
A Unite the union spokesperson said: “The government’s demonisation of diesel, its botched handling of Brexit and economic global uncertainty has seriously dented the hard work of Britain’s car workers in making their industry the jewel in the UK’s manufacturing crown.
“Unite will continue to press the carmaker for assurances over the jobs and skills of our members who have worked tirelessly over the past decade to make the company the global success story it is today.”