Workers at JCB’s four major factories have agreed to reduce their weekly hours from 39 to 34 with immediate effect for three months to avert threatened jobs cuts.

Graeme Macdonald, JCB chief executive,  said: “Our shop floor colleagues are to be applauded for their actions. JCB and the GMB were determined to do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies through a combination of voluntary redundancies, early retirements and flexible working.

“It highlights a great team spirit at JCB and also means we can retain some vitally important skills.”

Earlier this month JCB said that up to 290 shop floor positions were are risk of redundancy because of a rapid deterioration in world construction equipment markets. 

During the first stage of consultations, the number of jobs at risk of redundancy reduced from 290 to 235.  In order to avoid compulsory redundancies JCB and GMB also proposed a flexible working pattern for shop floor employees until the end of February to save in excess of 100 jobs.

Flexible working patterns will operate for the next three months at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester, Staffs, JCB Heavy Products in Uttoxeter, JCB Cab Systems in Rugeley and JCB Transmissions in Wrexham.

Gordon Richardson, GMB Works Convenor at JCB, said: “It’s a magnanimous act which is in the spirit of the approaching festive season and means that over 100 people who were under threat of compulsory redundancy will now have a much happier Christmas.”