Jaguar workers vote on pay freeze

Thousands of workers at car giant Jaguar Land Rover will start voting next week on whether to accept a one-year pay freeze and a four-day week in return for no compulsory job losses for two years.

Unite, the largest union at the company, is recommending acceptance of the deal in the ballot, with the result due to be announced at the end of next week.

The deal, aimed at saving up to £70 million, was thrashed out between union leaders and the company, which has cut around 1,800 agency, production and management jobs in recent months because of the downturn in the motor industry.

The GMB union, which also has members at Jaguar Land Rover, predicted they will accept the deal, with its result due tomorrow.

Workers taking part in the ballot are based at sites including Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands and Halewood on Merseyside.

The company employs around 15,000 workers.