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Job losses shock for Dyson staff
8:20pm Sunday 12th October 2008
STAFF at the Dyson factory in Malmesbury have been told that a third of all jobs in the research and development department are under review and up to 64 people could lose their jobs.
The bombshell was delivered by Dyson bosses Martin McCourt and Shaun Robinson to the staff in the research and development department.
Staff had no idea of the cuts until they received a letter on Friday morning at work asking them to attend a meeting at the factory at 2.30pm. They were told 113 jobs in the department, which at present has more than 300 staff, are under review. If the proposals are carried out 64 jobs will be axed.
A Dyson employee in the research and development department said: "We were told that 64 are going to be made redundant. We were told it was not about money or the current economic climate but about 'putting resources more effectively in more appropriate areas'.
"The mood among the staff was very sombre, people were stood there in shock. Grown men were so close to breaking down in tears.
“I am devastated. We are all worried about our families and our mortgages.
“I personally think this is due to the global economic crisis and I think the job losses here will result in work being outsourced to Malaysia and China.
“But Dyson is still making huge amounts of profits. Last year we had record profits and our profit margins now are the same or slightly higher.” The employee said that earlier this year 18 members of staff at the research and development department in Malmesbury were made redundant.
Dyson have told the staff that a 30-day consultation on the latest round of job losses will start on October 30.
The employee said: “It means that half of us will have lost our jobs by Christmas. We were looking forward to our Christmas bonuses, last year it was £1,000.”
The research and development department works mainly on Dyson’s vacuum cleaners.
The department has been divided into different areas for the purposes of making the redundancies - these are administration, technicians, electronics and support services.
A Dyson spokesman said: “We’re ceasing a number of projects currently under way in China.
“Regrettably this means the loss of 78 roles in China and has the possible knock-on effect of 64 support role redundancies in the UK.
“Malmesbury continues to be our global headquarters and invention base, where we employ 1,200 people.”
Your Say YourSwindon
ross warren, Swindon says...
8:35pm Sun 12 Oct 08
Swindon born n bred, Swindon says...
11:10pm Sun 12 Oct 08
I suspect that had Dyson not moved manufacturing to China that the cost of manufacturing in the UK would have pushed his prices up by so much that his market would have reduced significantly - leading to significant job losses.
No, I'm angry at the Bath councellors for turning down his engineering academy - we need more engineers to invent stuff that we can make and they said no!
Bobfm, South Marston says...
7:42am Mon 13 Oct 08
At the time he stated that if he was to relocate, it might as well be to where labour was cheaper and where the expanding markets were.
Don't blame the guy blame politicians and self interest residents.
Donkey, Swindon says...
10:04am Mon 13 Oct 08
When does someone have enough cash in their bank accounts to put a little something back into the efforts of those who made him his fortune?
Al Smith, Swindon says...
10:47am Mon 13 Oct 08
What's the point of being patriotic when petty and small minded people in Malmesbury didn't want the factory to expand?
What's the point in being patriotic when goverment agencies throw hurdles in front of plans to set up a design school and the goverment fails to stump-up the cash it promised?
What's the point in being patriotic when banks can screw-up the economy and get bailed out with £billions of tax payers money, but if you're a farepack or rover - tough luck go bankrupt?
What's the point in being pariotic when people will by made in China £30 clones of his cleaners, coz they're a good bargain?
The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man, Wiltshire says...
10:50am Mon 13 Oct 08
Bobfm, South Marston says...
11:02am Mon 13 Oct 08
It is true that manufacturing jobs were lost, but more highly paid ones were created, increasing HMG's tax take. I really do fail to understand the Socialist approach. Dyson invented the product, he took the risks, against crippling attacks by Hoover and others who dominated the market place, he employs thousands of people and he should show gratitude.
Perhaps that is the reason why Socialism and the Unions have destroyed our once great manufacturing base. It has been muted by those in the know that the 'water' issue at Honda's could have been the 'final straw' for the parent company. Lets hope, for those who work for Honda, not.
They are going on a 4 day week early next year until March at least my sources tell me. If you bite the hand that feeds
Mum's The Word, Walcot, Swindon says...
11:03am Mon 13 Oct 08
You really don't need to build your building in Bath anyway. You see here in Swindon we have the perfect place for you. It's called the Mechanics Institute and would be perfect for your Engineering school. I'm sure Mr Singh would be only to willing to sell and I am quite sure that your welcome in Swindon, by the council would be so different to what you have experienced in Bath. Perhaps you could even transfer some staff to Swindon to help set up the project, thus preventing the redundancies?
Think about it.....
Beckie Wolf
(Only to willing to become your Project Manager.)
Bobfm, South Marston says...
11:10am Mon 13 Oct 08
Mum's The Word, Walcot, Swindon says...
11:15am Mon 13 Oct 08
Al Smith, Swindon says...
11:42am Mon 13 Oct 08
Actually he could have been given the old Swindon College site.
KeepItReal_, Swindon says...
1:17pm Mon 13 Oct 08
Suckers!
Mum's The Word, Walcot, Swindon says...
1:33pm Mon 13 Oct 08
yiddo, swindon says...
3:14pm Mon 13 Oct 08
Captain T, Swindon says...
6:03pm Mon 13 Oct 08
1. The local council didn't let him expand his site several years ago even though he threatened to relocate if blocked. Council blocked him, Dyson relocated.
2. The extra profits he makes as a result of cheap labour in Malaysia are reinvested into the UK site, andn not into China. He is one of few who actually does this without profiteering personally at the expense of his UK workers
People knock him, but he does have a good business head and you can be assured that any savings will be wisely invested in the UK R&D plant
Mum's The Word, Walcot, Swindon says...
6:40pm Mon 13 Oct 08
Look at what Honda is aiming to achieve with the Academy. Mr Dyson's school would provide the chance for our future generation to gain a valuable trade and all the benefits that come with that. Mr Dyson in return would get a whole bunch of skilled, dedicated workers in order for his business to continue to flourish. It's not far from Swindon to his factory and it makes so much sense.
Big Mac, Old Town says...
7:20pm Mon 13 Oct 08
Labour's company taxation make it almost impossible for any company to seriously consider doing business here when the alternatives abroad are so much cheaper and more attractive.
You think this is bad? Wait til Honda are 'forced' to pull out of Swindon due to the lack of new car sales...
Your sayYourSwindon
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The Dyson plant at Malmesbury
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Mum's The Word, Walcot, Swindon says...
8:27pm Sun 12 Oct 08