Honda's Swindon plant closure is a 'betrayal' and threatens 15,000 jobs

Workers from the Honda plant in Swindon join a march organised by the UNITE Trade Union to protest at the planned closure of the factory on March 30, 2019 in Swindon, England. Honda are planning to shut its Swindon plant in 2021 with as many as 15,000 jobs in the area at risk. (Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images)

Honda's (HMC) decision to close its Swindon plant is a “body blow of betrayal” and threatens 15,000 jobs in the UK, says union Unite.

Earlier this year, the Japanese carmaker said it would shut the plant as part of a move to “accelerate its commitment to electrified cars” and “not because of Brexit.”

The company had said in September that it was committed to Swindon, but warned of the exorbitant costs it would face in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Unite national officer Des Quinn said in a statement: “We await the detailed reasons from Honda, but Unite believes that our alternative case to keep Honda Swindon open added up and was likely to be backed by the government with public money.

“It would have made Honda a global leader in emerging battery technology and in a strong position to exploit the growing global market for electric vehicles in the coming years.

“Instead we have this body blow which is nothing short of a betrayal of the workforce, customers and the wider supply chain which relies on Honda Swindon for work.”

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In February this year, the Japanese carmaker said it would cease production of 160,000 Honda Civics a year after a three-month consultation period produced "no viable alternatives" to its plan to close the factory in 2021.

"We understand the impact this decision has on our associates, suppliers and the wider community," said Honda UK director Jason Smith.

"We are committed to continuing to support them throughout the next phases of the consultation process."

While it said that talks to agree redundancy packages with the 3,500 workers would "begin immediately,” Unite says it puts 15,000 direct jobs at risk.

“Unite can only conclude that Honda is taking a strategic decision to retreat out of Europe in favour of protecting its North American operations and avoiding president Trump’s tariff threat on cars made in Europe,” said Unite’s Quinn.

“Unite will be consulting with its members on our next steps in the coming days.”