Ford Bridgend Job Fears As Union Leaders Summoned To HQ – Reports

US car giant Ford has called union leaders from its Bridgend plant in South Wales to a meeting at its UK headquarters, according to multiple reports.

Ford’s Bridgend site is a dedicated engine assembly line and directly employs around 1,700 people. Several hundred more are employed nearby in the supply chain.

Union representatives from the factory have been asked to attend a formal meeting at the manufacturer’s UK headquarters in Essex on Thursday, the BBC and Sky News reported.

ITV News said the Bridgend site would close altogether but calls to Ford were not immediately returned on Wednesday evening.

Trade union Unite said its representatives would be meeting the firm’s executives on Thursday.

A Unite spokesperson said: “Unite will be meeting Ford first thing tomorrow morning and will comment further once the details of any announcement are known.

“Our priority is our members’ jobs, the communities and livelihoods in the supply chain that Ford Bridgend supports.”

Car manufacturing in Britain has declined over the past year amid a fall in overseas demand and fears over Brexit.

Ford rival Honda announced earlier this year it would end manufacturing in the UK altogether with the loss of 3,500 jobs.