Workers at one Jaguar Land Rover’s key UK sites have voted for fundamental changes to their working week in the hope of securing jobs at the plant.
The Jaguar site at Castle Bromwich near Birmingham currently employs close to 2,500 people, but with production of the XJ model due to end at the plant on July 5th there is uncertainty about the future and some long serving staff have been offered the opportunity to apply for voluntary redundancy.
Though there is promise of an all-new XJ model in the future, the trade union Unite have taken steps to ensure that site is a viable option and have asked staff to vote on the option of a four-day week.
Speaking after the result of the vote was announced, Unite national officer Des Quinn said: “In backing these changes workers have secured Castle Bromwich’s future and paved the way for potential future investment.
“The changes will see vehicle production workers work a condensed week, offering them and their families greater work-life balance while ensuring Castle Bromwich’s proud history of producing iconic Jaguar cars continues into the future.
“Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich site is a powerhouse of the regional economy and the UK’s car industry.
“It provides a living for thousands of workers and supports many more in the supply chain.
“Unite looks forward to continuing discussions with Jaguar Land Rover to ensure that this remains the case and that the car maker can look forward to a bright and strong future.”
Castle Bromwich is regarded as the home of Jaguar in the UK, with more ‘big cats’ produced there, though it is also the smallest of the three UK manufacturing bases, with the others being Solihull and Halewood in Merseyside.