Motor manufacturer Nissan has confirmed 160 jobs are at risk at its Sunderland plant as part of a global restructure plan.
The automotive giant said the roles under consultation are all office-based – and represent around 17% of its 900 office workers. No production line employees are affected.
A consultation process has this morning been launched with the affected workers, with Nissan stressing the move is aligned with its global Nissan Next transformation plan, to turn into a leaner, more profitable organisation, and has not been motivated by the impacts of Brexit or Covid-19.
The exact nature of the office roles at risk has yet to be confirmed, but a Nissan spokeman said a “range of office support functions” are set to be cut.
In a statement, Nissan said: “We continually adapt our business to maximise efficiency in line with market conditions and we are currently in consultation with some of our office based staff.”
The announcement comes almost seven months after Nissan cut almost 250 staff at its Wearside plant due to a global fall in demand for new cars.
Contracts were not renewed for 248 temporary staff as the automotive firm struggled with issues that had been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a period of reduced volumes in its Sunderland Plant.
The job losses came soon after production restarted after halting for several weeks.
Nissan had to shut down production at its Sunderland plant at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but was able to re-open in June with social distancing measures in place.
Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson, whose constituency includes in the Nissan plant, said: I am very concerned to hear the news that Nissan is consulting on around 160 job losses - a near 18% reduction in its office-based workforce.
"This will be particularly alarming to those workers and their families, at what is already a worrying and uncertain time.
"I have been told that these reductions are not related to either Covid or Brexit impacts, but that is no relief to the workers whose livelihoods are at risk.
"I will be speaking with Nissan and the unions on this matter as soon as possible.”
