Falkirk bus company Alexander Dennis announces plans for 650 job losses
Bosses are blaming a decline in orders
Falkirk-based bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis has announced plans to cut its UK workforce by 650.
The company, which employs around a thousand people at its Scottish headquarters, says there has been a 'significant decline' in orders during the coronavirus pandemic.
A formal consultation on the restructuring will take place in the next few weeks.
The firm's outgoing chief executive Colin Robertson said: “A few short months ago, we were looking at a record year of sales, reaping the benefits of all our investment in new technology, new products and new markets. All of this changed with the impact of COVID-19.
“Since March, we have been in constant dialogue with the UK and Scottish Governments to make them aware of the unprecedented crisis facing our industry.
"We are deeply grateful for the support offered by the UK Government’s Job Retention Scheme, and we are heartened by the Prime Minister’s reiteration earlier this month of the pledge he made in February to bring 4,000 new green buses into service.
"We continue to call upon both Governments to act now to prevent further job cuts and preserve the UK’s world-leading bus and coach manufacturing industry.”
President & Managing Director, Paul Davies said: “As the UK’s leading bus builder and the world leader in double deck buses, we aim to continue to play a key role in delivering on Governments’ congestion, decarbonisation and clean air targets. We have the technology, experience, skilled workforce, capacity and commitment to deliver thousands of new green buses.”
Union leaders have described the news as a devastating blow.
Unite regional officer, Willie Thomson, said: “We believe these actions are premature and urge the company to continue to explore all options to protect jobs and livelihoods.
"We stand ready to work with them to achieve this. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the bus industry with the collapse of new orders from operators due to the crisis.”
“There has been promises of support from both the Scottish and UK Governments. That support must come now. The Prime Minister promised 4,000 green buses in February. Workers in Falkirk and Larbert are ready to build them. We need Boris Johnson to deliver his promise.”
“We also call on the Scottish Government to do more to support the world class manufacturing bases at Falkirk and Larbert.
"The Alexander Dennis workforce has a crucial role to play in a cleaner and greener future for both our economy and our communities.
"We will be fully engaging with the company in the coming weeks and we will do all we can to save these jobs. Each job is a worker, a family affected, and they shouldn’t be the ones to pay the price for this crisis.”
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