Pirelli Confirms Carlisle Cutbacks

In a statement released February 4, Pirelli has confirmed plans to reduce the working week of employees at its Carlisle plant until the end of April. “The full impact of the global economic slowdown is being felt by many businesses in and connected to the car industry who have introduced long term lay offs and reduced working weeks,” the company said. Local media had previously reported that the 40-hour working week would be reduced to 32 hours per week.

Pirelli also explained the actions it had taken in Carlisle to date, commenting that the manufacturer “has already taken steps to mitigate the effect on employees by reducing to zero overtime, an extended Christmas and New Year break, and announcing a further shutdown in February.

“Unfortunately these actions are not sufficient to match the continuing spectacular fall in production experienced in the car industry,” the statement added. “There is therefore a necessity to introduce a reduction in working hours for all our production employees in Carlisle.”