Honda is insisting its decision to move one line at its Swindon plant in the UK to a four and subsequent three-day week, will not see staff lose out financially.
The Japanese automaker presently operates a 40h working week at the plant, but current weak demand in Europe is leading the manufacturer to scale back the number of hours worked to 34h during September and 25h in October.
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That pattern will remain in place until the end of November when Honda will scale back up hours worked to four days and from the end of December to the new year to five days, effectively meaning a 37h week.
“One of the key things Honda does is [to have] a manufacturing strategy to manufacture products in the region where the customer wants it,” a Honda spokesman at the Swindon plant told just-auto.
“Manufacturing for the European region generally speaking, is under duress. In September, we will drop to a 34h working pattern, which means on average, we will work a four-day week. This only affects line 2 – 1,000 workers [out] of 3,500.
Honda currently operates a 40h working week at Swindon from Monday to Friday on what it terms a ‘demand led schedule,’ (DLS) meaning staff effectively bank extra hours worked on top of an average 37h week to use when orders are leaner.
The DLS system allows flexibility from 25.5h up to 42h worked per week, but whatever pattern is used, staff will be paid for 37.5h.
“You average it during a year,” said the Honda spokesman. “It is a rolling year – we have had that in place since 2009.
“During the next few days, we will kick the DLS system into place and adapt our week. We are probably ramp [ing] back up to 37h in the new year.
“Line 1 throughout that period in September and October will remain on a 42h working week.”
The Unite union was not immediately available to comment on the changes at Swindon, but reports indicate the labour body has been generally conciliatory to the plan.
“We have a good working relationship with Unite,” said the Honda spokesman.
