EXCLUSIVE: Nissan to Set Up Panel with Union over Plant Shutdown

Tokyo, Nov. 14 (Jiji Press)–Nissan Motor Co. will set up a labor-management committee regarding the planned termination of production at its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, at the end of fiscal 2027, Jiji Press learned Friday. The committee will hold its first meeting as early as this month to begin talks on measures for current workers at the plant, such as transferring them to Nissan Motor Kyushu Co., a subsidiary based in Kanda, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, which will take over operations from the plant. After concluding the talks, the management side plans to interview individual plant workers from February. The schedule may be delayed if the talks are difficult. The committee, which will include senior officials from the personnel affairs department, is also expected to discuss possible additional retirement benefits for plant workers who choose to leave, as well as support for them to find new jobs. Currently, about 2,400 employees are engaged in vehicle production at the Oppama plant. Nissan basically plans to transfer them to Nissan Motor Kyushu, but how many of them will accept the offer is unclear because they would need to relocate. In addition, nearby companies are offering to hire them amid labor shortages, according to a Nissan labor official. Earlier this month, Nissan formally informed its labor union that it will stop vehicle production at the Oppama plant in March 2028. The company also presented plans to maintain about 160 jobs, including for the production of repair parts and vehicle emissions testing, as well as research and development facilities. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]