Mini reopens after month's break

Production at the Mini plant in Oxford has started again, after an extended Christmas break due to a fall in sales.

Staff had an enforced four-week break instead of the usual two weeks. About 290 agency staff were also told not to return in 2009.

All staff at the plant, including remaining agency workers, were paid their basic wages over the shutdown.

The plant will shut down again between 9-11 January. Owners BMW said it was responding to economic conditions.

Mini sales in the UK were down 58% in November.

Many staff said they had to look for work over the festive period, after missing out on overtime during the four-week break.

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