Ford Bridgend plant under threat

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
https://news.sky.com/story/fears-fo...ant-calls-meeting-with-union-leaders-11735694

Fears for 1,700 jobs as Ford set to close Bridgend plant

The car maker, which employs 1,700 people at the site, has called a meeting with union leaders on Thursday.
By David Mercer, news reporter

Wednesday 5 June 2019 19:13, UK
skynews-ford-bridgend_4687309.jpg

Image:Engineers working on a Jaguar V8 engine at Ford's Bridgend plant

Ford is expected to announce plans to close its engine plant in Bridgend, with 1,700 jobs under threat, Sky News understands.
The car maker has called a meeting with union leaders on Thursday, when an announcement on the future of the site in South Wales is set to be made.


As well as its 1,700-strong workforce, hundreds more people are employed in businesses that supply the plant, which has been manufacturing engines in Bridgend for 40 years.

skynews-ford-cars_4687285.jpg

Image:Ford employs 1,700 people at its Bridgend plant
A Unite spokesman said: "Unite will be meeting Ford first thing tomorrow morning and will comment further once the details of any announcement are known.

"Our priority is our members' jobs, the communities and livelihoods in the supply chain that Ford Bridgend supports."


Jeff Beck, regional organiser for the GMB union, said the closure of the plant would "mean disaster for both our members in Bridgend and the community at large".

He added: "The ironic part is, in the week that Donald Trump is meeting the UK prime minister and talking up a special relationship and trade deal with the UK and the US, if the plant does close the new line is likely to be taken to Mexico by an American company.

"So much for the special relationship, Mr Trump."

On the future of the plant, a Ford spokesman said: "We don't comment on speculation."

The expected closure is the latest blow to Britain's car industry after Honda's decision to shut its Swindon plant in 2021, with the lost of 3,500 jobs, and Nissan cancelling plans to manufacture its X-Trail model in the UK.

45e09bd9333def92ce57ba369bcf1d69c59bcc30ecc7d840269ead7476274b1a_4627013.jpg



Ford was cutting up to 400 jobs in Bridgend in a voluntary redundancy drive - part of plans to axe many as 1,000 jobs at the plant over the next two years.

Meanwhile, the company announced last month that it was cutting 7,000 white collar jobs worldwide, with up to 550 expected in the UK.

The US-based firm employs about 13,000 people in the UK, roughly a quarter of its 54,000-strong workforce across Europe.

In April, Ford's chairman told Sky News that it would take a "long hard look" at its UK operations in the event of no-deal Brexit.

Steven Armstrong said Ford had already spent tens of millions of euros preparing for the UK leaving the EU without a deal, including the stockpiling of components for its factories.

"Anything that puts either tariffs or friction at the borders in place - a no-deal Brexit - would be a disaster for Ford Motor Company but also the rest of the industry," he added.


@Cowabunga as you predicted
 

Martin Holden

Member
Trade
Location
Cheltenham
This has little to do with Brexit. The motor industry is going through huge change globally. You see JLR and BMW co operating on electric car development, Fiat Chrysler in merger discussions with Renault and a big move to electrification. So petrol Diesel engine production will dwindle and that’s what the Bridgend plant made. Unless they can produce electric variants then they are doomed as are many other plants potentially. Perhaps Ford will exit the UK altogether? Looking at cost centres, places like Slovakia and Hungary can produce cars probably cheaper than we can. I’m sure the Koreans and Japanese are looking at this with keen eyes
 
So because of brexit ford are leaving the UK and to avoid tariffs,are moving to, mexico which must now be in the EU.
Amazing how remainers can twist everything to blame brexit, this plant has been rumoured to be closing for years on and off

Hmm, I’d say Brexit has a incy wincy bit to do with it according to Fords
Steven Armstrong who said
"Anything that puts either tariffs or friction at the borders in place - a no-deal Brexit - would be a disaster for Ford Motor Company but also the rest of the industry," he added.
Bloody remainers!
 

rob1

Member
Location
wiltshire
Hmm, I’d say Brexit has a incy wincy bit to do with it according to Fords
Steven Armstrong who said
"Anything that puts either tariffs or friction at the borders in place - a no-deal Brexit - would be a disaster for Ford Motor Company but also the rest of the industry," he added.
Bloody remainers!
so they wont pay tariffs from mexico to the EU then?
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
Car industry is up the spout regardless of brexit, its been a massive worldwide government bribe ridden industry for too long . Some massive re-adjustment in many sectors is going to happen and it will hurt short term but it needs to happen because everythings got out of kilter
 
so they wont pay tariffs from mexico to the EU then?
Do you not know anything about the deal done between the EU and Mexico? Obviously not! We have had a trade deal with Mexico for 20 odd years and are currently one of their biggest suppliers, and for the past few years have been renegotiating it to improve trade on a fair basis for both parties, a deal was agreed last year that is in the process of being ratified and this deal will reduce tariffs on virtually all goods to zero! Ironically one of the big winners are EU farmers with tariffs coming off, so the decision for Ford to relocate to Mexico is simple and made easier by the risk of the Uk having tariffs with every country it deals with if it leaves with No Deal!

The EU has done great deals with Mexico. Japan, Canada etc, the likes of which the UK would champion as being amazing deals if we did them direct, but just as these come into force, the UK leaves! You couldn't make this sh1te up. Btw my sister is married to a Mexican and lives between Mexico City and Vancouver.
 
Car industry is up the spout regardless of brexit, its been a massive worldwide government bribe ridden industry for too long . Some massive re-adjustment in many sectors is going to happen and it will hurt short term but it needs to happen because everythings got out of kilter
And business will readjust and go where it's cheaper and easier to manufacture and export. Mexico is a plumb obvious choice for an engine builder exporting all over the world and particularly the EU. No bribes, just hard core common sense business decision, the like of which will exclude the UK.
 
The EU has done great deals with Mexico. Japan, Canada etc, the likes of which the UK would champion as being amazing deals if we did them direct, but just as these come into force, the UK leaves!


Given that Honda left because the EU zero rated car imports from Japan .. it's a horrible deal for the UK.

Just as the Mexico deal is another kick in the nuts.

The EU is just Germany and France kicking the cr@p out of the UK.
 
And business will readjust and go where it's cheaper and easier to manufacture and export. Mexico is a plumb obvious choice for an engine builder exporting all over the world and particularly the EU. No bribes, just hard core common sense business decision, the like of which will exclude the UK.


It'll be interesting when 20% tariffs are placed on the EU by the UK and the USA has lower tariffs .. just hard core common sense business decisions to abandon EU and source goods from elsewhere.

Can't wait.
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
And business will readjust and go where it's cheaper and easier to manufacture and export. Mexico is a plumb obvious choice for an engine builder exporting all over the world and particularly the EU. No bribes, just hard core common sense business decision, the like of which will exclude the UK.
F##k em, they will be back and on our terms
 
Surely this should be in the Brexit humour thread:):):)
Oh no it is not a joke :(


What will be VERY interesting is the fact that once the EU is sorted out .. along with the Lords and Westminster .. the next job is sorting out London .. and actually getting money spent in other areas of the country.

I cannot wait to see the property prices in London reflect the fact the trough has moved elsewhere in the country.
 
It'll be interesting when 20% tariffs are placed on the EU by the UK and the USA has lower tariffs .. just hard core common sense business decisions to abandon EU and source goods from elsewhere.

Can't wait.
when it comes to Brit Ag, the term "source" should worry the hell out of most on here, but at least your a realist when it comes to the flow of trade.
 

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