UNION leaders have pressed Nissan for guarantees on jobs and future production after the Japanese carmaker’s decision not to build a new sports utility vehicle in the UK.
Officials from Unite met with management at the Sunderland plant today and expressed their ‘anger and disappointment’ over how yesterday’s announcement about future production of the X-Trail was handled.
Unite official Steve Bush said a ‘great deal of anxiety’ had been caused to the 7,000-strong workforce.
He stated that guarantees had been given that future production of the Juke and Qashqai models were not affected, adding: ‘Unite will continue to press for further long-term guarantees over future investment and new models to secure the site’s future for generations to come.
‘What this whole sorry saga shows is that the sector-wide uncertainty caused by Brexit urgently needs to be addressed by ministers, because it is draining the industry of skills, investment and new jobs.
‘The government also needs to get a grip and do more to support car workers and the industry in the transition away from diesel to alternatively powered vehicles.
‘Trashing diesel while pulling the plug on grants which help people buy electric and alternatively powered vehicles serves only to confuse customers and the industry.
‘Government ministers need to be far more ambitious and invest more in electric charging infrastructure, research and development to ensure the UK car industry has a bright future.’
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