Ford workers across Britain must stand together against the closure of the Bridgend Engine Plant, GMB Congress has said.
An emergency motion, passed at GMB’s Annual Conference in Brighton yesterday, called on the company to reconsider the closure – which will cost 1,700 jobs.
Ford workers at the car giant’s other UK plants must stand alongside their Bridgend colleagues, the motions says.
Workers are due back at the Ford Bridgend plant today for the first time since the closure was announced on Thursday.
Jennifer Smith, GMB Delegate who lives next to Bridgend Engine Plant, told congress, “This is a devastating blow for Bridgend, the Welsh car industry and the regional economy.
“More significantly, it’s a catastrophic blow for our members, their families and the community.
“The workforce at the plant have made every contribution possible to increasing productivity, making efficiency savings and ensuring that it is cost-competitive, only to have their commitment and loyalty betrayed by the company.
“This is also another example of the lack of support given by Central Government to the manufacturing sector in this country generally and in Wales particularly.
“The absence of any coherent strategy has caused a repeat of the decimation that we saw in the sector in the 1980s with the deliberate run-down of the coal mining and steel production industries. “
On thursday last week it was announced the 40 year old plant will gradually close from February next year with completion by the autumn as part of Ford of Europe’s cost cutting plans and a decision it would no longer be economically viable to make petrol engines there in future compared to other sites around the world.