United_Digital1_8:Activist issue 7 12/06/2009 13:24 Page 13
united digital manufacturing in crisis
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Looking on the bright side – Unite reps Alan Armitage and Mick Sheriff, Nissan Sunderland
Honda averaged out at 75 per cent earnings for the Nissan
Swindon second two months.” Sunderland
Industry benchmark Paddy believes that if the company had got It will be alright
Unite members at Honda in Swindon are their way it would have had a devastating effect Following the loss of 1,100 jobs and the
cautiously welcoming a return to work after a on the plant and the local community. He says government’s new scrappage scheme,
four month shutdown of the plant. workers were unable to claim on insurance to production volume is up and members are
protect mortgage payments and couldn’t claim now working overtime at the Nissan plant.
Around 1,400 workers accepted a voluntary benefits because they were still employed on
severance package last Christmas but a full-time contracts. Unite convenor Mick Sherriff says, “Members
stockpile of 110,000 vehicles led the company are feeling more secure in their jobs but
to announce a temporary shutdown. Tears obviously there is still uncertainty because we
“We had members on the production line in don’t know what the volumes are for the rest
Workers at the plant have now been forced to tears begging us to do something so that they of the year.
accept a temporary 3 per cent pay cut as wouldn’t have to support their families on £23
Honda is now claiming they are overstaffed by a day. “If the new scrapping incentives work within
almost 500 workers. the UK then hopefully we will see more
“We had an unprecedented return of voting overtime and more demand for cars, not just
Senior convenor at the plant Paddy Brennan papers when we ran the ballot, with 92 per at Nissan but at all of the UK plants which is
says the union is not claiming victory because cent voting in favour of the shop steward going to benefit everyone.
of the pay cuts, but says the priority of recommendation. Many workers even wrote
negotiations was to secure every worker’s job. messages of thanks and solidarity on their “It looks like there is light at the end of the
ballot papers.” tunnel. We have a new model to build from
“Initially the company tried to impose a October 2010 which is going to be called a
statutory package of five days on full pay then Jim D’Avila, Unite regional officer, said the Cassana. So you have to be optimistic, you’ve
£23 per day but this was vigorously rejected agreement sets an industry benchmark for got to say there is going to be light at the end
by the union. protecting jobs during the recession. of the tunnel.”
“The company then agreed to pay 100 per “In return for a three per cent cut in pay we Unite shop steward Alan Armitage agrees.
cent pay for the first two months and then 50 can ensure that hundreds of workers will stay “Hopefully this is just going to be a small blip
per cent for the second two months, in in employment. The workers have been paid and if we can ride it out for the next 12 to18
addition to bonuses already earned by workers during this period and will pay the company months then as long as we have jobs and we
as part of our productivity bonus system. back by working additional hours once they new models in the pipeline, at the end of the
When this was combined with holiday pay it return to work.” day it will be alright.”
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