Honda Plant Goes Back Into Production !
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-...Month_Shutdown
David Crabtree, Midlands correspondent
Honda's Swindon car plant has swung back into production after a four-month shutdown.
Workers on the Honda Civic production line
The stoppage was aimed at riding out the worst effects of the recession which brought a global drop in demand.
Other manufacturers have also had periods of non production, but not on this scale.
Some 1,300 Honda jobs have been shed through a voluntary scheme, leaving a workforce of 3,400 hoping for a period of stability.
The workers have agreed to take a 3% drop in salary, while management wages will fall by 5%.
They are temporary pay cuts over ten months, designed to prevent the loss of a further 500 jobs.
Later this year, the Swindon plant will take on production of Honda's best-selling small car, the Jazz, which has previously only been made in Japan and China.
The shutdown period has been used to prepare for the car, which is vitally important for the Swindon operation.
Dave Hodgetts, director of Honda UK Manufacturing, said: "This all shows that we are totally committed to our base in Swindon.
"We have production of the Jazz coming soon and we are doing everything we can to maintain our skilled and loyal workforce. The four months have been well used to update, streamline and modernise our capabilities."
The original annual production figure of close on 230,000 cars a year has been revised down to 112,854.
Honda's car plant in Swindon
Motoring expert Ken Gibson said:" It is an incredible example of how a British management can work with its workers.
"These guys have accepted a pay cut; they've taken four months off. If anyone questioned whether the British worker was willing to make sacrifices, this is the perfect example."
Honda has a policy of not asking the British Government for loans or bail-outs.
The industry will be hoping the kick-start from the scrappage scheme's £2000 discount will deliver a long term effect.
But Honda's assembly line is being restarted in the face of continued uncertainty.
29 de poze !!!
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-...Month_Shutdown
David Crabtree, Midlands correspondent
Honda's Swindon car plant has swung back into production after a four-month shutdown.
Workers on the Honda Civic production line
The stoppage was aimed at riding out the worst effects of the recession which brought a global drop in demand.
Other manufacturers have also had periods of non production, but not on this scale.
Some 1,300 Honda jobs have been shed through a voluntary scheme, leaving a workforce of 3,400 hoping for a period of stability.
The workers have agreed to take a 3% drop in salary, while management wages will fall by 5%.
They are temporary pay cuts over ten months, designed to prevent the loss of a further 500 jobs.
These guys have accepted a pay cut; they've taken four months off. If anyone questioned whether the British worker was willing to make sacrifices, this is the perfect example.
Ken Gibson, motor trade expert Later this year, the Swindon plant will take on production of Honda's best-selling small car, the Jazz, which has previously only been made in Japan and China.
The shutdown period has been used to prepare for the car, which is vitally important for the Swindon operation.
Dave Hodgetts, director of Honda UK Manufacturing, said: "This all shows that we are totally committed to our base in Swindon.
"We have production of the Jazz coming soon and we are doing everything we can to maintain our skilled and loyal workforce. The four months have been well used to update, streamline and modernise our capabilities."
The original annual production figure of close on 230,000 cars a year has been revised down to 112,854.
Honda's car plant in SwindonMotoring expert Ken Gibson said:" It is an incredible example of how a British management can work with its workers.
"These guys have accepted a pay cut; they've taken four months off. If anyone questioned whether the British worker was willing to make sacrifices, this is the perfect example."
Honda has a policy of not asking the British Government for loans or bail-outs.
The industry will be hoping the kick-start from the scrappage scheme's £2000 discount will deliver a long term effect.
But Honda's assembly line is being restarted in the face of continued uncertainty.
29 de poze !!!
In 1959 Honda established itself here in the U.S. selling motorcycles out of a small storefront in LA. Fifty years later, the folks at Honda erected a homage to that first little store in their U.S. headquarters. See it below.
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