Japan-based automaker Nissan could move assembly of 30,000 vehicles a year from Spain to Thailand if it fails to renew a wage deal for 700 contract workers at its Barcelona plant, a union official told just-auto on Tuesday night.
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Nissan wants a new wage contract in line with its new global cost-cutting plans, the official said, adding that unions are reviewing the offer and will decide on it in coming days.
If Nissan doesn’t agree a new labour deal, it could dismiss the 700 workers, Spanish newswire EuropaPress said, quoting the company’s Spanish chief Jose Vicente de los Mozos.
If it does that, the factory would lose a production shift and output of 5,000-10,000 Navara pick-up trucks between October and November, the newswire said. Overall, the Spanish site would lose 30,000 units a year to Nissan’s factories in Thailand.
Workers at Nissan’s Spanish unit enjoy shorter and higher-paying shifts than the industry average, de los Mozos said, adding that Nissan would consider longer shifts and reduced absenteeism in lieu of cutting wages.
Ivan Castano
