Jaguar workers in pay freeze deal
WORKERS at Jaguar Land Rover have agreed a one year pay freeze and four day week to protect jobs.
The deal struck with management will ensure there will be no compulsory job losses for the next two years.
Members of both the Unite and GMB unions employed at the car maker’s sites across the country, including Halewood, voted by 70% to 30% to accept the pay freeze.
The deal should finally instill some stability for the company’s 2,000 workers at Halewood, in a sector gripped by uncertainty.
The company is keen to implement the deal, which will allow it to make considerable cost savings, as soon as possible, it is understood.
Bert Hill, GMB organiser, said: “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.”
He added: “The choice for our members was clear – further mass redundancies or what is undoubtedly some short-term pain in order to secure the future for our members and their families.
“Only the latter could have been in the best interests of our members. The harsh reality is that some of our members would have faced the prospect of a future of uncertainty and little prospect of quality employment for the foreseeable future.”
The news came as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders announced that new car sales fell by 21.9% last month on February 2008, with 54,359 new vehicles registered.
Jaguar saw sales increased to 360 from 173 a year ago, because of the introduction of its new XF model. Bentley sold just 18 cars, compared with 105 a year ago, and Vauxhall saw its sales fall 24% to 9,372.
