Shocked workers at Rover's Cowley works were today reeling from the double blow of possible job cuts and a four-day week.

The company, which earlier announced it was planning to cut its overall workforce by 1,500, has now said that cost-cutting measures will spell a four-day week on some lines at the Birmingham, Solihull, and Cowley factories.

Rover said: "Some workers on the 600 and 800 models will go on to a four-day week, but I cannot say yet how many people will be involved or go into precise dates."

One of the 3,500 workers at the Cowley plant, where the 600 and 800 models are produced, told the Oxford Mail: "It's a bit odd because only recently they announced taking on people here at Cowley for a new project. We were told 1,000 people would be employed, so this has come as a bit of a shock."

Another worker said: "We're all a bit shocked. A lot of money has been invested here and we don't know whether this news will affect the new jobs. I can't see them putting 1,500 people out and employing another 1,000."

But a Rover Group spokesman said the company still wanted to take on another 1,000 workers for the new R40 model that will be built at Cowley. Rover is blaming the strong pound for the job losses and four-day week.

The T&G union today rejected Rover's proposals.

Tony Woodley, motoring industry national secretary, said: "Any suggestion that the workforce should have to suffer a loss of wages because of circumstances outside their control is unacceptable."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.