Economic Slowdown hits MINI Production!

[minicabrio]

They may complain they only got an hours notice, but they've actually been given a weeks notice

Being told an hour before they started work next week would be an hours notice

This gives them all week to seek alternate employment when they wouldn't have normally been employed anyway

[SoggyCornFlakes]

I think you'll find they've got a good grip onthe siutation. there are excellent deals to be had directly from BMW - Chilli packs etc. - and if you're willing to take a stock model from the dealership then you will get discount, and there are good discounts to be had if you know how to negotiate. If you still want your MINI made to order then you'll still pay a premium, that's market forces for you.

[mikeythemini]

I don't thing used prices will fall more - the is a shortage of used cars - take a look at the forecourts - they are virually empty in many places.
Its just taken my best mate 2 months to find an R53 in red at a dealer!

[Lucky Dave]

You only have to see over the past two months how dealers have been clearing used stock, then it gives buyers more chance of getting a new car made for them rather than the cherished option.

Now used stock prices have leveled I bought at the right time!

[dukesantos]

This should not have been a surprise, all auto manufacturers have been cutting production.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalboyne (original)

Has the down-turn hit MINI particualrly hard, or is it just that their measures appear to be more high profile than Toyota, Nissan etc?

And maybe somewhere in all of this, was the imbalance between over-supply and under-demand - someone decided to milk the cow dry by ramping up production to such levels that they became extremely vulnerable to the current economic situation......and it all ends in tears

MINI is seen as a "British" brand and company, so close to "heart" and home, good for public reaction and outcry. Also, it's owned by a German company, so good for stoking the old feelings there, plus people are still bitter and unhappy with the way the whole BMW?/Rover thing panned out, so historical annoyance there.....

Basically, it's very bad news, but it's good for the news agenda and can be spun and respun many ways.

[Keano]

There arent any used R53;s at my local dealership...

Best time to buy was a couple of months ago - plenty still about and they were alot cheaper than when i got mine!! If i had got my car now rather than when i did then a like for like car (same mileage, age and spec) would cost about £5k less now than when i got my car...

Prices have fallen alot IMO and it looks like dealers are trying to stop it as best as possible...

Hopefully prices will start to rise soon so that when i come to sell my car i wont be in negative equity!!!

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by rentagas (original)

What next?

"BMW dump UK subsidiary to highest bidder. Manufacturing to move to China"
BMW would never do that to the mini.....sorry MINI (again)

However with the news that the Crossman will be built in europe -could MINI production be moved to Poland/India/China?

I'd love to be able to answer that, but jobs are scarce .....and there really is no need for such ill informed comment at this or any other time

Moving swiftly on, I'd just like to say thanks to all the people who have privately expressed concern about the Oxord job situation , not just me but for all the others who visit this site.

[*Vikki*]

MINI workers on ITN news very soon! They appear to be shouting.

[*Vikki*]

Is that true about all those MINIs at portsmouth unsold?

Such a shame it being 50yrs too.

Sad really, especially with BMW paying for MINI United, I rather them pay their workers than fund a party.

[rec]

i took a stock S and got quite a discount.
also depends how well you can negotiate as mentioned.

[ff_mark]

A coulpe of my mates are 2nd hand car dealers and they both say that the 2nd hand values in general are rising, as they can't get the stock. All the stuff they bid on goes well over book price.

[Lawrothegreat]

This is an incredibly hard time for the agency workers.

Out of 850 workers in any workforce I would expect some violent and verbally abusive behaviour if only given notice of one hour. I would imagine it was only a very select few, and the entire workforce shouldn't be tarnished as a result.

With the number of people leaving, there won't be alternative employment for them all - many will be left unemployed. However, I don't think anyone in the workforce can be surprised either - sadly a lack of orders will result in factory slowdown. BMW cannot be expected to continue employing agency workers if the work isn't there. The issue here seems to be the way it was announced.

Employment legislation now ensures you have redundancy rights if you're employed for more than two years even on a fixed term contract, but I'm guessing that unfortunately this doesn't apply to agency workers.

As an employer you should have at least a moral duty to care for your workforce and as such more notice could have been given - how many of these 850 have made financial commitments over the last few weeks?

[rentagas]

[quote=Goonery;3663443]

Quote: Originally Posted by rentagas (original)

What next?

"BMW dump UK subsidiary to highest bidder. Manufacturing to move to China"
BMW would never do that to the mini.....sorry MINI (again)

However with the news that the Crossman will be built in europe -could MINI production be moved to Poland/India/China?[/QUOTE

I'd love to be able to answer that, but jobs are scarce .....and there really is no need for such ill informed comment at this or any other time

Moving swiftly on, I'd just like to say thanks to all the people who have privately expressed concern about the Oxord job situation , not just me but for all the others who visit this site.

Goonery
My comment was flippant and insensitive, I accept. It is a huge shame that so many workers got such bad news.
I do not believe that BMW share the sentimentality of the average MINI2er for this car. I believe that most MINI drivers are proud of the fact that they are driving an iconic British car made my British workers. I have owned Mercedes and Volkswagen cars in the past, all of which have been significantly (and dangerously) more unreliable than than the Citroens and Peugeots let alone my MINI.
As I have commented before I am proud too be buying a "British car from British workers" in March this year and I am quite prepared to spend my hard earned cash on such a car.
I appreciate that BMW have invested an enormous amounts of money on MINI and the UK and will have to make some hard commercial decisions about preserving their bottom line and the jobs of the workers left at their plants. I just hope this deep cut is the last.
Cheers and good luck

[Snowie]

Quote: Originally Posted by SoggyCornFlakes (original)

and they complained at havign an hours notice ........... well how wise of the Management it turned out to be to ensure they did go immediately and weren't there for another month causing damage and sabotage to other MINIs.

Maseratti wish that they had done this when they recently downsized their workforce in Modena.

They gave a notice period in line with their union employment agreement and had the workers complete their notice period.

Sadly a small minority decided to take out their anger on the cars that they were working on - lots of damage and incorrectly built cars.

It is very sad to see people losing their jobs, it is wide spread and the car industry is very hard hit in most countries - Fiat here employ over 56000 workers.

Job security is a big issue for many of us and we trust that our employers treat us fairly.
We have to remember that the majority of those who have lost their jobs at Plant Oxford are agency workers who BMW / MINI have no legal employment responsibility. No one seems to be attacking the agency companies who just seem to wash their hands of any responsibility for their employees.

I trust that the rest of the MINI workforce at the 3 plants can settle down and look forward to a brighter future without further lay offs. GOOD LUCK to you all.

It will also be interesting to see how many of the car companies will come out of recession and into better times - how will they be able to manage the upturn when so many skills and skilled staff have been lost from the overall workforce.