Brexit blamed as Ford axes 400 jobs at major UK plant
Blue Ford Fiesta on a road - Credit: Ford
Brexit has been blamed as car giant Ford announced a voluntary redundancy programme at one of its main plants, leading to the loss of hundreds of jobs.
The company said a voluntary separation programme will affect hourly and salaried employees at its Bridgend engine plant in South Wales.
The move, which Ford said was part of its ongoing actions to create a 'sustainably profitable business' in Europe, will affect between 350 and 400 jobs.
The news comes weeks after it emerged that the car-maker would cut as many as 1,000 jobs at the plant over the next two years.
A Ford spokesman said: 'The programme follows discussion with the union on matching the plant's labour requirements to the projected production volume expectations in the near term.
You may also want to watch:
'It is anticipated that the majority of employees who apply and are selected for voluntary separation under this programme will leave Ford employment in the third and fourth quarters of 2019.'
The company announced plans last month for a major shake-up of its operations in the UK and mainland Europe.
Most Read
- 1 Could Mexican Coke spark a new Coca-Cola cold war?
- 2 A view from inside the Heathrow petri dish
- 3 The truth about 'buy British'
- 4 Liz Truss accused of freeports 'catastrophic blunder' following Brexit deals
- 5 The man the Soviet Union left in space
- 6 Downing Street announces plans to change English voting system following string of Labour victories
- 7 Why can't the English see what the Scots and Welsh can?
- 8 Labour should never have swallowed the Brexit pill
- 9 Tories could push for 2023 general election after axing key legislation
- 10 Sadiq Khan re-elected as London mayor as Laurence Fox loses £10k deposit
Labour MP for nearby Cardiff Central Jo Stevens, a supporter of the anti-Brexit campaign group Best for Britain, said: 'It's absolutely devastating to see the effect that Brexit is already having on communities here in Wales and across the UK.
'People had many different reasons for voting leave in 2016, but surely no-one voted to put people out of work and at risk of losing their home.
'The prime minister is more concerned about desperately preserving the unity of her Tory Party than acting in interests of people across the country.
'All MPs must now unite against this disastrous Tory Brexit and bring the people back into the Brexit process through a final say on what should now happen.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
