Workers at troubled car maker, Jaguar Land Rover, have opted for a four-day working week and a one-year pay freeze in order to avoid compulsory job losses.
On advice of union officials at Unite and the GMB, workers voted 70 per cent in favour of the deal in an attempt to prevent further redundancies on top of the wave of staff cuts announced by the group in recent months.
In a joint statement following the ballot result, the unions said: ‘We did not want our members in Jaguar Land Rover to be faced with the same fate as the thousands of others who have been dismissed in other companies.
‘The management agreed with our view that, when this unprecedented recession ends, the retention of a skilled and loyal workforce is an integral part to the ongoing success of this business.’
Earlier this week, a further concession was made in the car industry when workers at van manufacturer LDV agreed to take a 10 per cent cut and a 30-hour week if plans for a management buyout go through.
LDV stopped production in December last year following a dramatic drop in demand. Discussions remain ongoing regarding the company’s fate, however, Erik Eberharson, who is leading the buyout, is confident that there is a viable long-term future for the company.
Eberharson said: ‘I am confident that when we complete the MBO and secure the funding we need, we can then focus all our efforts on making this business something that we can all be immensely proud of. This latest news is one of a number of steps being taken to improve the business plan for potential investors. ’
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