These latest job cuts come after the manufacturer made more than 1000 people redundant last year. JCB company officials told the BBC that its total business was down 75% on the same period last year.In October 2008, JCB staff voted for a shorter 34-hour week to protect jobs. JCB told the broadcaster that its Staffordshire plants, including the company’s headquarters in Rocester, JCB Cab Systems in Rugeley and Uttoxeter-based JCB Heavy Products, would be affected. It said jobs would also be lost at JCB Earthmovers, Cecilly Mills, and JCB Compact Products, which are all based in Cheadle. A JCB spokesman said JCB Transmissions, based in Wrexham, North Wales, and JCB Power Systems, in Derbyshire, would also be affected. “The ongoing reluctance of the banks to provide credit is aggravating an economic downturn which is now becoming much steeper than we could have ever envisaged,” chief executive Matthew Taylor said. “This unprecedented situation needs to be addressed with some urgency so that confidence and stability can return, otherwise irreparable damage will be caused to the UK’s manufacturing industry.”
