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BMW lays off 850 workers at British Mini plant
'That's not on. That's why people are angry and so upset with BMW and with the union,' Fernandes told the BBC.
BMW has 4,700 workers at Cowley, which can turn out 800 cars per day.
'While Mini has been weathering the economic downturn, it is not immune from the challenges of the current situation,' BMW said in a statement.
'Against this backdrop the company felt that a review of its shift patterns was necessary. This decision has not been taken lightly. The plant's union representatives have, of course, been involved in the discussions.'
BMW reported earlier this month that sales of the Mini model rose 4.3 percent in 2008 to 232,425 cars. Overall, the company said sales dropped 5 percent across its product range.
In January, however, Mini sales were down 35 percent compared to a year earlier. About 80 percent of the Minis built in Britain are exported.
Auto sales in Britain fell sharply at the end of the year because of the recession. Nissan has cut 1,200 jobs at its plant in Sunderland, England, while Honda has halted production at its Swindon plant for four months.
'Sacking an entire shift like this, and targeting agency workers who have no rights to redundancy pay, is blatant opportunism on BMW's part and nothing short of scandalous,' said Tony Woodley, joint leader of the Unite union.
'BMW's parent company couldn't attempt this in Germany because it would be illegal to do so. It is a disgrace, therefore, that workers in this country can be so casually thrown to the dole.'
Derek Simpson, joint leader of Unite, said the job losses placed 'a huge onus on the government to take drastic action to support the motor industry and to encourage people to buy cars.'
'The banks will also have to start making credit available again or this is going to lead to disaster,' Simpson said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman, Michael Ellam, said the government was working on a package of relief measures which was still incomplete.
'Clearly this is very disturbing news,' Ellam said of BMW's announcement, 'and all I can say is that the government is doing and will do everything it can to help those affected.'
BMW acquired the Mini, a boxy symbol of the swinging 1960s, when it bought the Rover car company in 1994.
BMW has 4,700 workers at Cowley, which can turn out 800 cars per day.
'While Mini has been weathering the economic downturn, it is not immune from the challenges of the current situation,' BMW said in a statement.
'Against this backdrop the company felt that a review of its shift patterns was necessary. This decision has not been taken lightly. The plant's union representatives have, of course, been involved in the discussions.'
BMW reported earlier this month that sales of the Mini model rose 4.3 percent in 2008 to 232,425 cars. Overall, the company said sales dropped 5 percent across its product range.
In January, however, Mini sales were down 35 percent compared to a year earlier. About 80 percent of the Minis built in Britain are exported.
Auto sales in Britain fell sharply at the end of the year because of the recession. Nissan has cut 1,200 jobs at its plant in Sunderland, England, while Honda has halted production at its Swindon plant for four months.
'Sacking an entire shift like this, and targeting agency workers who have no rights to redundancy pay, is blatant opportunism on BMW's part and nothing short of scandalous,' said Tony Woodley, joint leader of the Unite union.
'BMW's parent company couldn't attempt this in Germany because it would be illegal to do so. It is a disgrace, therefore, that workers in this country can be so casually thrown to the dole.'
Derek Simpson, joint leader of Unite, said the job losses placed 'a huge onus on the government to take drastic action to support the motor industry and to encourage people to buy cars.'
'The banks will also have to start making credit available again or this is going to lead to disaster,' Simpson said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman, Michael Ellam, said the government was working on a package of relief measures which was still incomplete.
'Clearly this is very disturbing news,' Ellam said of BMW's announcement, 'and all I can say is that the government is doing and will do everything it can to help those affected.'
BMW acquired the Mini, a boxy symbol of the swinging 1960s, when it bought the Rover car company in 1994.
