Toyota responds to downturn with pay and production cuts

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Toyota, widely acclaimed as the model of the motor industry, has announced a programme of cost-cutting measures affecting its operations in the UK.   Pay and working hours for UK staff will be cut by 10 percent from 1 April, affecting 4,500 staff at its assembly plants in Burnaston, Derby, and its engine plant on Deeside, Flintshire. Management bonuses have also been scrapped.   Toyota said the cuts will last for a year, and would allow the company to ÔÇ£maintain employment in this difficult period".   The Unite union said that the cuts would give Toyota workers a measure of stability, although it said any decision to cut wages and working should not be taken lightly.   "The agreement we have reached with Toyota will ensure none of our members' benefits are eroded and that these skilled workers will remain in place and at work ready for when the upturn comes," said Unite representative Peter Tsouvallaris.   Toyota employs 3,900 workers at Burnaston, where the Avensis and Auris are made, and 570 at Deeside. The company has already suspended a night shift on its Auris production line and will shut production for a total of four weeks later this year.   It has already cut 200 temporary jobs and opened a voluntary redundancy scheme last week but has insisted major layoffs would not be necessary. Toyota is on record for its commitment to protecting its skilled workforce, so it can be ready to take advantage of the upturn when it comes.   The announcement is the latest in a long list of similar measures in the UK motor industry, with production halted at HondaÔÇÖs plant in Swindon until June, GMÔÇÖs Vauxhall plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton planning a 40 day shutdown, and Bentley in Crewe introducing a three day week.   Other manufacturers have taken the redundancy route, with Nissan in Sunderland shedding 1,200 jobs and Aston Martin cutting 600 in Gaydon in Warwickshire. Jaguar Land Rover has cut 1,050 jobs in Solihull & Halewood, and also introduced a one year pay freeze and four-day week.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *