Ref. 26917-32Swindon Pressings is set to axe 330 workers just three months after the company said there would be no redundancies.

ABOUT 330 Swindon Pressings workers are to lose their jobs three months after the firm said there would be no mass redundancies.

This represents just over a sixth of the 1,880-strong staff roll.

The company is hoping that some will transfer to the plant in Cowley, Oxford, which is owned by Swindon Pressings' parent company, BMW.

In addition, certain workers' fixed-term contracts will not be renewed and there will be some voluntary redundancies and early retirements.

Redundancy packages will be offered, related to workers' roles and years of service.

Of those who must go, 80 are from managerial and non-manual staff, while shopfloor workers account for the rest.

The cutbacks are happening because of changes in so called third party contracts.

These chiefly involve MG Rover and Land Rover, for which Swindon Pressings makes certain panels.

The contracts are coming to an end as the firms develop new models.

Swindon Pressings managing director Bob Bolam, interviewed by the Evening Advertiser, in October last year, said: "I don't think anyone can rule out the question of redundancies forever.

"All I can say is that it is not something we are considering at the moment."

Mr Bolam said yesterday that the job losses were a restructuring aimed at putting the firm in the best possible shape to take advantage of burgeoning business in making panels for BMW's popular new-shape Mini.

He added: "We have always realised that there would be a decline in our third party business.

"As predicted, we are seeing a reduction in volume associated with that.

"The end result is that we believe we will need to reduce the head count on this site by approximately 330 by the end of this year.

"Also, we are looking to achieve half of that by the end of April and the remainder during the balance of the year.

"We will do it by a mixture of transferring people to our Oxford plant and not renewing fixed-term contracts when they come to an end.

"Where appropriate, there will be some voluntary redundancies and some early retirements."

Mr Bolam said 19 staff had already visited Oxford with a view to moving there.

About another 50 have expressed an interest in exploring the possibility.

The two main trade unions at the plant are the TGU and Amicus, and Mr Bolam said both were involved in talks with management about the proposed job losses.

Nobody from either trade union was available to comment.

Barrie Hudson