Nissan staff set for city’s freedom title
Nissan’s workforce is to receive the Freedom of the City at a special ceremony next week.
Employees at the car plant – representing some 7,000 workers – will be presented with the honour at an extraordinary meeting of Sunderland City Council next Wednesday.
The event will be held in the council chamber of the Civic Centre.
A report issued to accompany the 6pm meeting states: “The council do confer the Honorary Freedom of the city upon the Employees of Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd as a token of the esteem in which they are held by the citizens of Sunderland and in recognition of their continued dedication to ensuring the success of the car plant and their positive contribution to the economic wellbeing of the city and people of Sunderland.”
Confirmation of the cer- emony comes as Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson welcomed news the factory will increase its production by 20% and double the amount of parts is sources from UKbased companies.
The firm had declined to comment on the reports by Japan’s Nikkei Asian Review, which said the car giant is to up its productivity.
It has been claimed this is to offset increased costs following Brexit,
The publication, which covers the Japanese stock market, says Nissan will encourage parts suppliers to relocate close to the plant, which will help reduce the risk of the risk of higher import and export duties, should the UK lose access to the European single market and customs union.
Nissan announced last October it was investing in the production of a new models of the Qashqai and X-Trail in Sunderland after it was given Government assurances withdrawal from the EU would not impact on its competitiveness.
In the wake of the claims made earlier this week, it says it is continuing to work with the Government to ensure it’s long-term success and investment.
Today, Mrs Hodgson MP said: “This is fantastic news for Sunderland and I am thrilled to see Nissan investing again in our area.
“This welcome news is down to the hard work and dedication of the employees and management of the Nissan plant, along with its crucial supply chain.
“This is something I have called on the Government to do through investing to boost production of UKsourced materials for Nissan cars to meet WTO rules of origin, and it is welcome that Nissan will go ahead with this investment themselves to ensure the future of the plant and their employees.”
“I am thrilled to see Nissan investing again in our area” SHARON HODGSON