Union chiefs call for guarantee over Southampton's Ford Transit plant

Union bosses claim the topsecret document obtained by the Daily Echo is proof the company plans to close the factory and exit the UK while Ford insists it is committed to the Swaythling operation.

The confidential information, which maps out the motor giant’s long-term plans for its European factories, has also been seen by secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills and S o u t h a m p t o n Itchen Labour MP John Denham, pictured, who wants a promise from the highest echelons of Ford.

He said: “In light of this information, I will be asking Ford of Europe boss John Fleming for a public reassurance to the company plans to stay in Southampton.

“I can understand workers being worried but it is important to remember the global economic downturn affecting the motor trade is completely separate from the decision on where new Transit models will be built and it is important that one issue does not slip into another.”

Fears over the future of the plant came to light in July when the Daily Echo exclusively published a leaked company memo that revealed the factory was under review.

It was later revealed the company planned to reduce output from 75,000 vehicles a year to just 35,000 chassis cabs, cut jobs and export production of the iconic Transit to Turkey.

The official document at the heart of the new controversy is entitled Ford’s European Cycle Plan Actions – a chart for 2005 to 2009 showing proposed changes to various sites.

Most of the plans listed in the document include details of preparation work, staff negotiations and when a new workload is due to start.

However, the chart for Southampton shows no progress going forward into 2009.

Other British Ford plants shown on the report in a similar way such as Solihull in the Midlands and Halewood on Merseyside have since been sold.

Unite union regional officer Ian Woodland said: “This document is all of our worst fears come true.

“I believe any move to downsize the factory would lead to massive job losses and eventual closure.

“The only way Ford could convince me it sees Southampton in its long-term future would be to retool the plant and agree to build the new Transit here – anything else will spell the end for the workers.”

A Ford spokesman fiercely refuted these claims and said the chassis cab plan constituted a multimillion pound investment and firm commitment to the city.

He said: “The company has worked hard to find an option that would make the Southampton plant viable and this does.

Production on the new chassis cab is planned to start in 2011 but the proposal has to go before management in America for approval later this year.”