Ford factory closures means 1,500 jobs lost

Ford factory closures means 1,500 jobs lost

The recent relevation from the motor giant Ford that it will be closing two of its manufacturing plants in Dagenham and Southampton, means that up to 1,500 jobs will be cut.

The site at Dagenham is due to be closed in summer 2013, and it is thought that more than 1,000 jobs will be affected here, according to claims from union officials. The factory in Southampton, which produces the Ford Transit van, is due to close at around the same time, and more than 500 jobs are due to be lost here.

There is some respite for the other engine plant in Dagenham, which will be producing the new Panther engine, as a number of jobs are forecasted to be created here, and workers may be offered redeployment here, or otherwise redundancy packages. This news will still see the carmaker's UK workforce diminish from the 11,400 it employs at the moment across the British Isles.

National officer of the GMB trade union (General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union), Justin Bowden, commented: "Ford's track record in Britain is one of broken promises and factory closures. There will be a feeling of shock and anger, and Ford's commitment on investment will cut little ice... This is devastating news for the workers in Southampton and Dagenham and is very bad news for UK manufacturing..."

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