Nissan announces 1,200 jobs to go at Sunderland plant
Jan 9 2009 by William Green, The Journal
Bleak start to the new year for Nissan workers
THE grim reality of facing a jobless start to the new year dawned on many within minutes of beginning their shifts yesterday.
Workers had only returned to the production line on Monday after an extended Christmas shutdown in response to the slowdown in sales.
Around 400 temporary staff were told their contracts would be terminated but would still be paid until the end of the month.
The permanent staff will now begin a 90-day redundancy consultation to work out their options – with bosses looking for 800 volunteers in the hope of avoiding compulsory redundancies.
Father-of-one Colin McLean, of Jarrow, South Tyneside, had been working at the plant for six months.
He said: “Everyone is gutted. I found out on the news, but we all thought it was coming.
“We can’t get another job until the end of the month, we won’t get paid if we do.
“I’ve got a child and a fiancee and it’s just gutting, I have no idea what I’m going to do.
“Everyone is just really down in the dumps, we will try to laugh about it, but what can you do?”
Liam Quigley, 20, from Durham, had been working at the plant for a year.
He added: “I’m upset but we all knew it was coming. With all of the people around us I think we were the last to find out.
“There will be a slowdown, we are getting paid to the end of January. Everyone is annoyed, people have been there for years. I guess I’m only 20 and I will probably be able to get another job but it’s those who are in their 40s who will be in trouble.”
Workers still dressed in grey overalls and wearing bright yellow jackets left the plant via car, bike and on foot.
Some didn’t want to give their names to The Journal.
One dad-of-two said: “I’m gutted, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. It’s a good start to the new year isn’t it?
“Everyone is upset, people have just gone to the pub. I think it was expected something would happen, but it’s a lot of the workers.
