Union hopes Nissan job cuts are voluntary

A union leader says he is hopeful job losses at Sunderland’s Nissan plant will be met without compulsory redundancies.

The firm confirmed this week that almost 160 jobs are under threat at the factory and it is starting redundancy talks with staff.

The cuts affect backroom staff and Nissan has said the consultation does not involve production workers.

A spokesman said: “We continually adapt our business to maximise efficiency in line with market conditions and we are currently in consultation with some of our office based staff.”

News of the cuts was announced to those affected on Tuesday, and Unite regional officer Nick Halton was invited into the plant for a briefing with bosses on Thursday, January 28.

Hesaidmanagementhad discussed the long-term future of the plant and the commitment to production on Wearside by global chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta before outlining details of the planned job cuts.

“They are all non-production staff; office staff, basically, in IT, HR and the new model design team,” he said. "The new Qashqai is coming within a few months and so there is a reduction in requirement.”

Talks were under way on agreeing a package that would encourage people to leave: “Hopefully, we are going to get there through voluntary redundancies,” said Mr Halton.

“If people want to go straightaway then they will look at that, depending on the impact on the business.

"But some redundancies can’t go ahead until later in the year.”