Pirelli Carlisle Returns to Contractual Hours

Pirelli Industrial reports that its Carlisle tyre plant will return to contractual hours from the 2 May 2009 – July 2009. However, the manufacturer also made it clear that the move is subject to future reviews of market requirements and said there will be further actions by the company to “match production levels to reflect the current global tyre market situation,” adding: “It should however be emphasised that due to a great deal of volatility in the economy regular reviews will be ongoing to ensure the stability and viability of Pirelli in the UK.” In the short term this means there will be one shutdown period from 27 May to 31 May 2009 with no others planned during the initial three-month month period. According to a company statement on the matter, the timing of this has been at the request of the Carlisle plant’s site Trade Unions in order for workers to fully utilise the half-term break and minimise impact on employees with familes. Pirelli’s Burton-on-Trent MIRS-equipped plant is set to shutdown between 26 May and 30 May 2009 with additional lay off days to reflect the lower volume of production. Following an earlier announcement that Pirelli would consider voluntary redundancies at the Burton plant, the company now says it now anticipates up to 20 job losses from the factory. “It should however be emphasised that due to a great deal of volatility in the economy regular reviews will be ongoing to ensure the stability and viability of Pirelli in the UK,” Pirelli’s statement concluded.