Honda bids to avoid redundancies

Honda has asked its employees to accept pay cuts in a bid to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Workers at Honda's Swindon factory, which is currently on a four-month shutdown, have received letters asking them to 'remain flexible to the ever-changing circumstances'.

"The seriousness for the global car industry and the unpredictability of what will happen in the future cannot be underestimated," Dave Hodgetts, planning and administration director, told staff at the plant, which is due to resume work in early June. "This makes it extremely difficult to confirm a longer-term plan."

Trade union Unite said it would be entering into talks with Honda’s management. No figure for the pay cut has been proposed.

The manufacturer opened a voluntary redundancy programme in December, under which about 1100 staff have left. As a result, around 3600 staff are employed at Swindon.