Union leaders keep pressure on Vauxhall's new owners
1st October 2009
Union leaders have kept up the pressure on the new owners of car
giant Vauxhall to protect its plants in Ellesmere Port and
Luton.
Unite has held a series of meetings with Canadian car parts firm
Magna and UK government officials, which are set to continue over
the next week.
Unite's joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said there are
still no guarantees for the long-term future of the two UK
factories.
"The situation is very serious," he said on BBC Radio 4's Today
programme, adding there are continued fears that 1,000 jobs could
be cut in the UK.
Mr Woodley said 25,000 jobs are dependant on the Vauxhall plants
as 400 component firms rely on the carmaker for business.
"It is not economic to carry any surplus capacity in the
industry, but we believe in sharing the pain." he continued.
Mr Woodley has already complained of a "political stitch-up"
after the German government offered a huge amount of money to
Magna, which he claimed was aimed at securing jobs in Germany.
Without guarantees of future investment, there would be "major
problems" at the UK factories after 2013, he warned.
ENDS
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