HONDA workers say morale has plummeted with the news that up to 500 more employees could be out of work in the latest round of voluntary redundancies.

Staff at the firm spoke out last night after it was announced they would be offered improved packages – which workers claim could be 75 per cent higher than the deals offered in January.

One worker told the Adver that after less than two years at the company he would be in line for a £10,000 pay-off – as opposed to £6,000 at the beginning of the year.

The 37-year-old from Grange Park said: “In January all associates had to ask for quotes to see how much money they would get if they chose to take the offer from the company.

“Now all production staff have been handed the figures by the company, and anyone else wanting a quote will have to ask for it.

“At the meeting they said if they didn’t get enough people they would have to look at other options like the last time – pay cuts.

One employee’s wife said workers are ‘walking on eggshells’ after Monday’s announcement – and said some are finding themselves in increasing debt as the pay cheques decrease.

She said: “Morale at the company has never been lower.

“These people have not just taken a massive cut to their wages, they are also on edge on a daily basis as to whether they will have a job in the future.

“This is taking a massive toll on people.

“I’ve seen people lose their homes, have marriages split up and hit rock bottom over this.

“In terms of how much money people will lose, someone who was regularly bringing home £2,100 a month is now on £1,500.”

Another worker, who has been at the plant for three years, said: “It came as a surprise but we are all well aware the company has a surplus of workers.

“Unless they offer us a really huge sum of money I don’t think many people will be offering to go.

“It’s okay for the older guys but for us younger ones who have our whole working lives ahead of us there’s just no way we can chance it. Everyone knows there are no jobs out there.

“What they have offered is the financial benefit being increased. They haven’t been more specific but they said they might have to look at doing some of the things they did last time. I presume they’re talking about pay cuts.

“But, just like before, they are still saying to people whose skills are considered too valuable to lose that they can’t go.”