Short-time at Bedford
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BEDFORD has warned its Dunstable workers that some could go on short-time working later this year, as a result of a big drop in worldwide orders.
Completely knocked-down business will be reduced by 60 per cent by October, and the company says that even now it is working with more staff than it needs to meet demand.
It has still to finalise details at Dunstable, or at Luton where light vans are built, and in the meantime is operating without any overtime.
Meanwhile, Leyland Vehicles are operating a one-week-on / one-week off basis for the 4000 workers at the medium/light vehicle plant at Bathgate, West Lothian, and will be introducing three "closed weeks" for 9000 of the 10,000 workers at the heavy vehicle division plant at Leyland, in Lancashire.
There, the plant will be closed for one week in September and for two in October, but the company says that it is still reasonably happy about its share of the shrinking market. It achieved a 19,3 per cent share of the British market last month, its best percentage for 18 months.
Annual holidays have helped cut output from most companies in recent weeks, and other companies report no change in their production arrangements at present. But all are reviewing strategies and are prepared to act if matters worsen.