JLR jobs victory

In another victory for workers and local communities, Jaguar Land Rover announced on Monday (January 12) that it would create 1,300 new jobs at its world-class Solihull plant to build the automotive company’s first sports utility vehicle (SUV).

 
This addition of so many new jobs comes on the heels of billions of pounds in investment at the plant over the past three years, and the doubling of its workforce to 9,450 over the same time period.

 
The SUV, based on the C-X17 concept car, was first launched at the Ford motor show in 2013 and will go on sale as the F-PACE in 2016.

 
Although newspapers highlighted what Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth called the company’s “commitment to the UK…and a manufacturing-led economy”, what was less publicised in the media was the role the workforce has played in the car firm’s success.

 
“Jaguar Land Rover’s announcement is testament to the skills of the workforce and their ability to make world class vehicles,” said Unite national officer Roger Maddison.

 
“Their sacrifices during the tough times helped the company become the beacon for British manufacturing excellence it is today,” he added. “The foundation of that success is the company and Unite working closely together and today’s announcement further underlines what a world beating workforce the workers at JLR are.”

 
Indeed, JLR said it had chosen the UK as its manufacturing base for the new car because it wanted its cars to be “crafted with that special British flair”—a clear nod to the country’s highly skilled workers.

 
Unite’s close working relationship with JLR, among other automotive firms, has been key in the push for greater investment that has led to the creation of highly-skilled jobs and a greater domestic emphasis on manufacturing.

 
As David Bailey, Professor of Industry at Aston University, who has helped with drawing up Unite’s strategy for the automotive industry, explained to UniteLIVE in November:

 
“The skill and productivity of UK car industry workers have played a key part in the sector’s revival. Workers and unions – especially Unite – have been instrumental with management in making the UK a competitive place for car firms to invest.”