Media Release

"At the moment the motor manufacturing industry employs 1.5 million people in Europe. There is manufacturing capacity for 20 million cars, but demand for only 13 million. Worldwide production capacity is nearer 68 million vehicles but demand for only 48 million..… When Renault announced 4,100 redundancies at its plant at Vilvoorde in Belgium, and another 2,760 of its 100,000 French workers were also axed, politicians became highly agitated. Angry workers held demonstrations and sit-ins in an effort to protect their jobs, even though there was little or no possibility that any action would make a difference. More drastic staff cuts in Europe are inevitable."

Author Roy Sheppard says "The fate of Rover’s workers is tragic, but SO predictable. Changes in the motor industry and other ‘sunset’ industries are so clear to see. Similar fates WILL befall a significant number of British workers in those sectors. This is not ‘negative’ thinking – it is based on the reality of the marketplace. One of the first rules of survival is to recognise when you are in a vulnerable situation and then develop personal strategies to cope with unpalatable possibilities. Sadly, too many workers and executives in many industries prefer ‘ denial’. All too often it is male ego and pride that’s to blame – a belief that they have the necessary power and intelligence to fight through a tough or seemingly impossible situation. When they fail, anger, bitterness and blaming others becomes the next step. It doesn’t make things better. We are proud of our British Bulldog spirit. Sometimes this is a strength. Other times it’s a weakness. We all need to learn when to apply it appropriately. The world is changing. If we don’t change – we’ll be toast!"

ENDS

EDITORS NOTE Reader service. A free chapter on how to cope with change in the workplace which details the clearly defined stages of change; denial, resistance, exploration and acceptance - is available at Roy Sheppard’s website at www.RoySpeaks.com/chap3.htm