Toyota Manufacturing UK says it is to substitute extra holiday for a planned shutdown and impose a pay freeze for 2010 following the conclusion of its salary review process.
The plant had been scheduled to close for a week from 5 April, but a TMUK spokeswoman said the decision had now been made to give each employee five days paid holiday at its Burnaston and Deeside plants, which will be taken from 6 April to 9 April plus one extra floating day.
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“It is basically the same thing but it is paid holiday,” she told just-auto. “In total, we will be shutting from 31 March to 12 April.
“Obviously during that time we will have some maintenance but there will be no production and no-one [in] apart from essential functions.
TMUK has been operating a 10% reduction in hours and pay since 1 April last year and will continue to offer a ‘voluntary release programme’ with the aim of shedding 750 workers.
Precise details of that scheme have not yet been announced. “We are not in a consultation period as it [job reductions] are not compulsory,” said the spokeswoman.
“The next year is key for TMUK employees returning to full time working, and offering a voluntary release programme will allow us to adapt to the reduced market,” said deputy managing director Tony Walker.
“We believe this decision will be welcomed by our employees, who have shown flexibility and commitment to the company during this difficult time.”
TMUK plans to move to single line production at its plant in Derby from August this year. The factory builds the Auris (the European version of the Corolla), the larger Avensis and is soon to add the Auris hybrid.
