Whitehaven News

Workers criticise hours cut at Carlisle's Pirelli factory

By Matthew Legg Business editor

Last updated at 08:23, Friday, 06 February 2009

Pirelli workers have criticised the company’s handling of a crisis at its Carlisle tyre plant which has led to working hours being cut again.

Have your say

The reason they get rid of shopfloor workers first is because it doesn't cost the company as much money is notice pay and benefits and its alway easy to get rid of those types of workers, sorry to say that but its a fact, the same has happened at a factory I work at outside of Carlisle, we supply components for the Car industry and our workforce has dramitically reduced since Dec 2008, although being a small company we don't get the headlines like Pirelli, we just have to hope people start to buy cars as the more unemployed the more burden on the taxpayer, so really the goverment giving companys bailouts is possibly better in the long run than have thousands claiming job seekers allowance when they are made redundant.

Hope things pick up soon for anyone linked directly or indirectly to the car industry.

Posted by Mark Novam on 15 April 2009 at 17:01

Employees of Pirelli do not need comments like those from Ged. I hope you put a large bet on and lose the lot. Pirelli management are doing their best for their staff in these hard times.

Posted by anon on 10 April 2009 at 19:03

Can the media please not make things out worse than they really are. All redundancies to date at Pirelli have been voluntary.

Posted by ANON on 10 April 2009 at 11:19

the warehouse is full - but nobody wants them.

They have made too many - supply and demand.

Posted by warehouse cat on 10 April 2009 at 10:33

In response to dekko, why should the Government use taxpayers money to bail out Pirelli? It is an Italian Company, you dont see the Italian Government clamouring to halp British businesses do you? No, of course you dont. As Someone rightly said here, even on short time you are still taking home more than most other people in Carlisle so stop whinging about it. At least you still have a job and Pirelli are doing the best they can to ensure that you keep it.

Posted by Steve on 10 April 2009 at 09:11

i refer to a comment i made a month a go
and still stick by it that Pirelli is on a fast and slippery slope downhill and will not be around in Carlisle in the near future

if the bookies are taking bets i would say it will be shut bu april 2010

Posted by ged on 9 April 2009 at 17:51

i cant believe this as was told by a boss earlier in week they had moved 30000 tyres above target for this month also people in my department have been asked to work more hours than 32 some up to 40hrs and others more whats going on its time the guaranteed working week was reinstated if they are short and why no redundancies in the offices there seems to many chiefs and very few indians these days

Posted by secret saucer on 9 April 2009 at 17:31

money that this gov send abroad should go towards helping the likes of pirelli.
this rotten gov wanted carsoff the road,now they have the wish

Posted by dekko on 9 April 2009 at 17:08

Do employees not understand that if the company do not do things like this then they will all be out of a job?

Their company is trying to be forward thinking during a hard economic climate and trying to preserve jobs. It's either that or they go to the wall and then no-one has a job. I can't believe that some people are so stupid that they can't actually see what is for their own good.

Posted by Brian on 25 March 2009 at 07:28

In reply to the shortsighted comments about hardship - what about the hardship in the soon to close Spanish factory and the hardship of the managers and staff who suffered compulsory redundancy at christmas. Redundancy is the threat that hangs over white collars, when was the last blue collar compulsory redundancy? Yes it's the same company but different contracts have different rules. Look at the bigger picture but if you don't like the rules you signed up for then you can always move on.

Posted by PS on 24 March 2009 at 23:55