Jaguar Land Rover issues update over controversial plan that could see staff ‘lose £400 per month’

Staff had expressed concern about the plans

Jaguar Land Rover has issued an update about significant changes to workers’ shifts. In January, the ECHO revealed workers at the Halewood factory fear losing out on around £400 per month in payments as the car manufacturing giant moved them from a pattern of potentially working two shifts per day to just one shift.

While base salaries will not change under the new arrangements, workers will lose the shift premiums they are paid when working on later, unsociable shifts. The business says it is making the changes to enable the ongoing transformation of the site following the announcement of a £500m investment to prepare it for the production of electric vehicles.

At a visit to the plant’s new training centre on Wednesday, the ECHO asked JLR’s HR director about the changes to shifts and how long they would last for. Steph Stephenson told the ECHO: “We are currently preparing to move to a day shift operation. That will be during the transition between now and when we launch vehicles.

“Employees will continue on their base rate salary but the premium that they receive for working rotating shifts or unsociable hours, is what they’ll drop. The average salary typically is around £41,000 as a base and the premium is what won’t be applied for this period when they’re on day shift work.

“We expect to return to shift working once we launch the vehicles. We haven’t committed to a timescale yet but we’re expecting to be on day shift for the next fiscal year.”

One Halewood worker previously told the ECHO: “Times are hard at the moment and to lose out on £400 per month will be hard for people” and in February, the ECHO reported that the Unite union issued an update to workers at the site about the changes. In a leaflet distributed to shop floor workers – seen by the ECHO – the union stated: “On January 7 JLR confirmed their intention to revert to a one-shift production pattern. In response we issued a bulletin on January 9 expressing our frustration at the way this announcement was handled, particularly the lack of prior consultation with the union.

“In that communication we assured you that we would be engaging in discussions with management to address the key concerns arising from this change. These include: Start and finish times, car parking arrangements, break schedules, canteen facilities, childcare considerations and holiday planning.”

The note added: “We appreciate that the lack of updates since then may have caused frustration. However, please be assured that discussions with JLR management are still ongoing. We have made it clear that these issues must be resolved in a timely and respectful manner so that you, our members, have the information you need to plan your lives accordingly.”

JLR bosses previously confirmed they had issued an apology over the initial communications about the proposed changes. A spokesperson said: “As part of normal business practice, we regularly review our production schedules and adapt shift patterns.

“JLR is investing £500m to transform Halewood and these changes will enable the ongoing electrification of the facility whilst continuing production of ICE vehicles. We have apologised to colleagues for a communication timing error in relation to proposed shift changes as part of this transformation and remain committed to continued discussions with the Trade Union.”