Sponsored by
Nissan workers stunned
"TOTAL shock."
Those were the words of stunned Nissan worker Liam Stokoe after being told he had lost his job as a forklift truck driver at the plant.
"I just couldn't believe it," he said. "We were hearing rumours that there were going to be job cuts, but I don't think anybody predicted this many. Everybody is absolutely devastated."
Nissan news & reaction
>> More in-depth reaction in today's Sunderland Echo
- TOP STORY: We will survive
- Nissan workers stunned
- Nissan boss: We will come back
- Union chief fears job losses domino effect
- Sad news for city
- Reaction from businesses
- 'Sunderland people will get through'
- Key dates in Nissan's history
- How the news broke... 'Nissan axe 1,200 jobs'
>> More in-depth reaction in today's Sunderland Echo
The 25-year-old, from Grangetown, Sunderland, was informed by managers he was one of the 400 temporary workers to lose their jobs.
"Like most of the people who have been laid off, I suppose I'll be down the job centre tomorrow," said Liam, who served in the Army for six years before joining Nissan almost 12 months ago. "It's going to be tough.
"Nobody knows what's going to happen or if any of us will get another job anytime soon."
However, other day-shift workers leaving the site said they had expected the announcement and were putting a "brave face on it".
Many stopped outside the plant to call friends and family on mobiles and tell them about the news.
A 25-year-old production-line worker, from Doxford Park, Sunderland, told the Echo: "There have been rumours flying around for weeks and it always seemed like it was a case of when, rather than if, it was going to happen.
"A lot of people were pretty much resigned to it, although that didn't make it easy. We were all surprised by the scale of the lay-offs.
Have your say
- What do you think? Are you a Nissan worker fearing for your future? Email us or call the newsdesk on 5017208
- Who is to blame for the crisis? Vote in the panel on the bottom right of this page
- Join the debate in our forum
"We were all sat down and given a one-to-one and we were then shown a DVD laying out the plans and what was going to happen. Most people took it in their stride and put a brave face on it."
And other workers who managed to keep their job said they feared for the future.
"Nobody knows what the future will bring, so you just get on with it," said a 34-year-old full-time worker from Doxford Park, Sunderland.
"I'll be back in on Monday and we'll all just have to take it from there. The whole country seems to be in a mess at the minute. Nothing is for certain.There are no guarantees. I've been with the company for 10 years and I've never seen anything like this. We've just got to ride it out."
A 40-year-old production-line worker, from Sunderland, added: "My job is safe for the time being, but that could change at any time. We all know that, nobody has any illusions and none of us are making any long-term plans here.
"What worries me most is that at my age, it's going to be difficult for me to get another job and there are others like me who face spending years on the dole.
"I've enjoyed my time here. The lads have been great and I get on well with the managers.
"But I suppose nothing lasts forever and if it happens it happens."
No redundancy arrangements are in place yet and the company will meet unions to discuss exact details.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough
- Sunderland’s astonishing rise even surprising Martin O’Neill
- Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it
- Martin O’Neill defends David Meyler after criticism from Tony Pulis
- Kieran Richardson says there is plenty more to come from James McClean
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
