‘Talk to us’ call

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey (pictured) met with business secretary Greg Clark this morning (February 15) to seek assurances over the tens of thousands of jobs at risk in Ellesmere Port and Luton following last night’s news that the French carmaker PSA was in talks to buy GM’s Opel business which includes its UK affiliate Vauxhall.

Following the meeting, McCluskey vowed that Unite would “not allow a single job to be lost” and said that he sought to establish common ground with the government on protecting jobs in the UK.

Brexit would be a major issue, he noted, adding that “there is no doubt companies are unsure”. The best way to overcome this uncertainty would be to retain access to the single market, which McCluskey said Unite has continued to press the government over.

He also flagged up the many opportunities to bring back componentry and to invest in new technologies.

But in order for this to happen, he said ,“the government must take forward its industrial strategy seriously.”

After the news broke last night over talks between Peugeot and GM, McCluskey called the development “surprising”.

“I am really disappointed and actually angry because only last year the President of General Motors (GM) gave me his personal assurances that there would be no surprises in terms of our plants’ futures,” he said. “These commitments have clearly not been upheld.

“But while this has come out of the blue, we are absolutely determined of one thing – UK plants will not be allowed to close,” McCluskey pledged. “I have no intention of allowing GM to walk away from their promises and our plants and workers.

“So my message to the workers at Luton, Ellesmere Port and the tens of thousands in the wider supply chain is this, remain strong and stay united.  The UK and the EU are among GM’s biggest markets globally – if they think that they can walk away from dedicated workers and loyal consumers without a care, they need to think again.

“To Peugeot I say, talk to us.  Our members have helped to make the UK auto industry the most competitive and productive in Europe and will do so again with the right backing.

“I also have a message to the UK government, which is do not sit on the side-lines,” McCluskey added. “Intervene, work with us to create a new future for these plants.  The French government certainly is not sitting idle – they have a 13 per cent stake in Peugeot and they have given their blessing to this deal.  We want UK auto workers to feel the same sense that their government is backing them.”

McCluskey highlighted that the situation would prove to be a “real test for the government and its much-vaunted industrial strategy.

“To be worth the paper it is written on it has to see a role for government in securing our skilled manufacturing base,” he said.  “That means stepping up and stepping in to secure our automotive sector now.”

Stay tuned for more updates.