(Title Image: Wales Online)
Ford Europe has announced that the Bridgend engine plant will close on 25th September 2020, with the loss of around 1,700 jobs.
The company have blamed “cost disadvantages” compared to other plants and excess manufacturing capacity due to a fall in demand for its engines (and the closure of several production lines at Bridgend) as the reasons behind their decision.
Carwyn Jones AM (Lab, Bridgend) said: “The workers deserve so much better than this after all their efforts and hard work. They did all that was asked of them.”
The Unite trade union – one of the unions which represent workers at the plant – called on the Welsh and UK governments to work on a rescue plan, with the Leader, Len McClusky, describing the decision as a “grotesque act of economic betrayal”.
It comes just weeks after Honda announced its intention to close its Swindon plant in 2021 with the loss of 3,500 jobs, while Nissan decided against manufacturing a new vehicle in Sunderland.