JLR workers to vote on freeze and 4-day week
ABOUT 12,000 workers at Jaguar Land Rover are set to vote on whether to accept a one-year pay freeze and a four-day week in return for no compulsory job losses for two years.
The pay and reduced working week concessions form the key planks of a crucial framework agreement finally reached last week between Unite union leaders and JLR management in a bid to save up to £70 million in costs.
The agreement reached in principle will see JLR’s manufacturing operations work from Monday to Thursday, but only two hours trimmed off the working week and the loss of just one’s hour pay.
Unite union national car industry secretary Dave Osborne said: “We have now outlined the details of the framework agreement to shop stewards across Jaguar Land Rover.
“They overwhelmingly supported the recommendation from the negotiating committee that this document should go to our members with a recommendation that it is accepted.
“The agreement includes a shorter working week for manufacturing, with a two-hour reduction in production and a one-hour reduction in pay. It will be a four-day week in manufacturing areas.
“It is also true to say salaried areas will be asked to work additional hours for no additional pay.
“Both groups have agreed a pay freeze for 2009 for one year only. Pay negotiations will resume in October 2010.
“We have had some difficult times at Jaguar Land Rover with the disposal by Ford, and going through the sales process, but we have managed to maintain a unity of purpose.”
The proposed deal also includes a mobility clause allowing JLR to transfer workers between factories when deemed necessary and an increase in employee pension contributions.
Provided the two-year agreement is accepted, the deal will allow both unions and management to continue to campaign for a Government loan guarantee of up to £1 billion to free up credit for potential JLR customers.
