'When we found out, everyone was just silent': Angry Ford workers are sent home after car maker confirms it WILL close Bridgend plant by September next year with the loss of 1,700 jobs

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Unions have today expressed outrage at Ford after it announced plans to close its engine plant in Bridgend next year, with the loss of 1,700 jobs.      

The 40-year-old plant in South Wales will close in September 2020, affecting both internal jobs and companies supplying goods and services to the plant. 

Workers were given the news at briefings inside the plant this morning and told to go home and not return until Monday. 

The company blamed the ending of a contract with Jaguar Land Rover and a fall in sales of petrol engines amid huge changes in the car industry, stressing that the decision was not related to Brexit. 

Unions said the news was devastating for the plant and the UK economy, pledging to resist the closure 'with all their might', while Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the decision was a 'grotesque act of economic betrayal.' 

A worker speaks to the media as he leaves the Ford engine plant near Bridgend, south Wales, following the announcement

Workers at the Ford engine plant in Bridgend said they had expected the factory to shut, but were surprised at how soon the decision was made

Left, Labour MP Madeleine Moon and right, a worker leaving the Ford factory this morning

Ford's engine plant in Bridgend (pictured today) will close in September 2020, it has been announced

Unite has pledged to 'stand by members through thick and thin' and said it was 'ironic' the announcement came in the same week US President met the UK Prime Minister to discuss trade deals between the UK and America.  

The Bridgend site opened in 1980, covers an area of 60 acres, and is one of Wales's major employers.

The shock announcement delivers another huge blow to the UK motor industry following news that Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan are also scaling back operations. 

Workers at the Ford engine plant in Bridgend said they had expected the factory to shut, but were surprised at how soon the decision was made.

Len Jones, 48, who has worked at the plant for seven-and-a-half years, said: 'It's devastating. Everyone's got mortgages to pay and families to support.

'I expected a little more time to get things sorted.

'When we found out, everyone was just silent. They gave us letters and we just all went home.

'It's hard to take in really, even though we expected it. Now it's official, it's a bad thing, really.'

One worker, who gave the name of Stephen, said: 'When they came out with the statement, you just don't take it in do you. But, such is life.'

'The writing has been on the wall for a long time. We knew when the Sigma engine finished there was no replacement. We knew when the AJ engine finished there was no replacement. The predicted volumes for new Dragon engine were 250,000, then 125,000, then the last thing we had was for 70,000.'

Some workers who were told of the closure had already been redeployed from Southampton, where the company's Ford Transit plant shut in 2013.

Claire Shortland, 47, a supervisor who worked for the company for 27 years, said: 'I was at Southampton when they shut there, and it's a bit of a piss off that we found out from the press.'

Asked what the mood was like inside the factory when the news was given, she said: 'Dismal, but sort of expected really. We expected it, but not as soon as this.

'I just don't know what I'm going to do now. I sort of packed everything up and came here from Southampton when we stopped making Transit and now this.'

One worker said: 'When we found out, everyone was just silent. They gave us letters and we just all went home'. Pictured, a staff member leaving the plant today 

Around 1,700 people employed at the South Wales site will lose their jobs. Pictured: Engineers working on a Jaguar V8 engine at the Ford engine plant near Bridgend

The Welsh government said it will set up a task force to help workers find other jobs following Ford's announcement to close its Bridgend factory.

The 40-year-old engines plant in South Wales will close in September 2020, also affecting jobs in companies supplying goods and services to the factory.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: 'This news is incredibly sad for the loyal workforce at the factory, for the community of Bridgend and for those in the supply chain.

'The Welsh Government has supported the plant over many years, and this decision in no way reflects on the highly skilled individuals who have given the company great service over four decades.

'The Welsh government will do everything in its power to support those impacted by this announcement and to work with all partners to explore options for the future of the plant.'

Former Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones, AM for Bridgend, said the government should intervene

Former Welsh Government leader Carwyn Jones, currently Assembly Member for Bridgend, said the announcement was 'very sudden.'

He added: 'There was no warning about this at all. It seems to me that any decision, whatever that decision is, would have been taken very recently.

'From my perspective I want to know what's going on as to with the workers and want to know a reason for the decision, and to work with Welsh government to see what we can do to help the workers here.

'It's the biggest single employer in the area, I remember it being built in the late 70s. 

'There are relatively few suppliers locally but there are a number of businesses that provide services for the plant itself and they would be severely affected because for a lot of them this is the only contract they have.'

'I do know that Ford said themselves in October publicly that a no-deal Brexit would mean they would rethink their investment strategies for the UK.

'If it is the worst news here, is that part of that re-think? They will have to explain.' 

Ford said factors behind the proposed closure of Bridgend included 'significant underutilisation' of the plant, driven by the impending end of engine production for Jaguar Land Rover, the ending of the previous generation Ford GTDi 1.5-litre engine, and reduced global demand for the new generation Ford GTDi and Pfi 1.5-litre engine. 

Some workers who were told of the closure had already been redeployed from Southampton, where the company's Ford Transit plant shut in 2013. Pictured, workers leaving this morning after being told to go home for the weekend 

Ford said factors behind the proposed closure of Bridgend included 'significant underutilisation' of the plant

Union sources said Ford bosses spent much of the meeting explaining how much cheaper it was to build engines at its plant in Mexico compared with Bridgend.  

GMB regional organiser Jeff Beck said: 'We're hugely shocked by today's announcement, it's a real hammer blow for the Welsh economy and the community in Bridgend.

'Regardless of today's announcement, GMB will continue to work with Ford, our sister unions and the Welsh Government to find a solution to the issue and to mitigate the effects of this devastating news.' 

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the decision was a 'grotesque act of economic betrayal.' 

Mr McCluskey added: 'These workers and this community have stayed faithful to Ford, as have UK customers - this is still Ford's largest European market - through thick and thin, but have been treated disgracefully in return by this company.

'Ford broke promise after promise to the UK. First, it was that it would build 500,000 engines at Bridgend. 

'That fell to a quarter of a million, then fell again and again.

'The company has deliberately run down its UK operations so that now not a single Ford vehicle - car or van - is made in the UK.

'Ford has treated its UK workers abysmally, and they could do so because the fact remains that it is cheaper, easier and quicker to sack our workers than those in our competitor countries.

'But Ford can forget about it if it thinks we will make it easy for Ford to walk away from this workforce. We will resist this closure with all our might.'

A member of staff at the Ford engine plant near Bridgend, south Wales

The Ford engine plant near Bridgend, south Wales, where around 1,700 jobs are affected

At expected volumes, the plant also faces a cost disadvantage compared with other Ford facilities building the same engine, said Ford, adding that 'significant efforts' to identify new opportunities have not been successful. 

A company statement said: 'It is proposed that production of the new generation Ford 1.5-litre engine will end at the Bridgend facility in February 2020, with manufacture of the engines supplied to Jaguar Land Rover ceasing in September 2020, when it is proposed that Bridgend will close.

'As part of its proposals, Ford also has provided details of a comprehensive plan with an enhanced separation programme for Bridgend employees. 

'This includes helping employees with redeployment opportunities to other Ford sites in the UK and assisting with domestic relocation where possible, or supporting them to find new employers or pursue new opportunities, such as creating their own businesses or training for new careers.'  

Sources close to the engine plant have labelled the news 'devastating'

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said Ford will be 'taking an economic sledgehammer to the Welsh economy in an act of gross industrial sabotage if it doesn't urgently reverse these closure plans.'

He added: 'Instead of betraying workers who have worked tirelessly to make Bridgend one of the most efficient engine plants in the world, Ford bosses should be rebalancing global engine production from Mexico and India to Bridgend. There is a global yearly market of some 500,000 for the Dragon engine and we demand our fair share of that.

'Unite representatives across all of Ford's UK sites have previously stated if any plant in the UK is faced with closure or compulsory redundancies, they would all move to a ballot for industrial action.

'Ford bosses should be in no doubt. Unite will not stand back and let Ford turn its back on its loyal UK workforce and allow our members' livelihoods to be shredded because they are cheaper and easier to fire than their counterparts elsewhere in the world.' 

Unite has pledged to 'stand by members through thick and thin' and said it was 'ironic' the announcement came in the same week US President met the UK Prime Minister to discussed trade deals between the UK and America

Union leaders had been called to a meeting with Ford bosses today

A Government spokesman said: 'Ford's announcement today follows earlier announcements that the company has made about its ongoing global restructuring plans, nevertheless the news of their intention and consultation on closing the Bridgend plant will be very worrying for the dedicated workforce.

'Ford has committed to supporting employees throughout the consultation process and beyond, including with redeployment opportunities to other Ford sites in the UK. 

'At the same time, they have also reaffirmed their commitment to their other sites in the UK. The UK Government will be working closely with Ford, local stakeholders and trade union representatives through the consultation.'

Ford has excess capacity in other plants around the world for the engines produced in Bridgend, while the factory in Mexico has 'cost advantages' against the 'relatively under-utilised' lines in the South Wales plant.

He added that Ford will be repaying money given by the Welsh Government for the Bridgend site.

WELSH GOVERNMENT TO SET UP TASK FORCE TO HELP THE BRIDGEND WORKERS 

Minister for economy and transport Ken Skates said: 'The Ford engine plant has been a part of the fabric of Bridgend for almost four decades and my heart goes out to all those employed at the site and in the supply chain.

'This is clearly devastating news for the highly skilled workforce at the Ford Bridgend plant and the many local suppliers and communities who rely so heavily on it.

'The Welsh Government will establish a task force to work together with others over the coming weeks to help find a sustainable, long term solution for the plant and its workforce.'

Rebecca Long Bailey, shadow business secretary, said: 'This is truly terrible news for the 1,700 workers directly employed at the plant, all those in the supply chain, their families and the wider community in Bridgend.

'The Tories need to wake up to reality: they are dragging our manufacturing base into oblivion. Their leadership candidates are vying to inflict the most damaging form of Brexit, and not one of them has a strategy for the challenges facing the automotive sector.

'The Government must immediately start working with the Welsh government, trade unions and Ford to rescue the plant. If they don't, then once again the Tories' legacy will be decimated industries, from steel to car manufacturing.'

Ian Price, CBI Wales director, said: 'The planned closure of Ford's Bridgend plant is a blow to the lives of all who work there and in its supply chains, as well as to the Welsh economy.

'The workers must be given every help in re-training, upskilling and finding new opportunities. Despite the bad news, we welcome that Ford recognises its obligations and is proposing a plan to ease the impact.

'The Welsh government and Westminster must do all in its power to sustain manufacturing in our country, and support industries under threat from a range of challenges, from automation to a slowing global economy.'

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: 'The Bridgend Ford plant is one of the greatest and most iconic plants in UK manufacturing and a hallmark of the Welsh industrial landscape. Its skilled and loyal workforce has given 40 years of service to Ford.

'The decision to close the plant is one of the worst acts of industrial vandalism seen in the UK for decades and will have a devastating impact on Bridgend, the wider Welsh economy and over 1,700 workers and their families.

'It is particularly crass and insensitive to announce this dreadful decision on the 75th anniversary of D-Day - a day on which we remember one of the greatest acts of co-operation and solidarity between Wales and the US in our shared history, and after a week in which the US president himself was in the UK talking up the importance of economic ties between the US and the UK.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: 'I fully recognise that this an extremely worrying and uncertain time for Ford workers, their families in Bridgend and the surrounding communities.

'The UK government will work closely with Ford, the trade unions and the Welsh government, to make sure this highly-valued workforce can move into new skilled employment.

'In my discussions with Ford management, they have confirmed that they will offer redeployment opportunities to staff while colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions are standing by to provide advice and support to others in the local area.'

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders, said: 'Today's announcement is another crushing blow for UK automotive manufacturing and, especially, the staff and their families in and around Bridgend.

'Ford's challenges are not unique: economic uncertainty at home and abroad, technological change and global trade issues are stressing markets and forcing companies to review operations and make difficult decisions.

'Success in this fiercely competitive global industry, however, starts at home and we hope that all efforts will be made over the coming weeks to restore confidence, bolster demand and ensure there is long term competitiveness for this crucial sector.'

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