Show ‘Civic pride’ call

#SaveHondaSwindon campaigners will be joined by a giant ad van emblazoned with a plea to the car giant to stay true to the town in a day of action across Swindon to avert the closure of the town’s major employer.

The vans, which will set off to the tune of The Impossible Dream, Honda’s theme, will call on football fans at tomorrow’s (March 23) game between Swindon Town and Morecambe to show ‘Civic pride’ and join next Saturday’s (March 30) march and rally to stop the closure of Honda’s Swindon car plant.

Car workers and campaigners will unveil the #SaveHondaSwindon ad vans outside the County Ground before the match at 13:30 as part of a campaign day. Earlier in the day shadow home secretary Diane Abbott will meet with under threat Honda logistics workers and deliver a message of solidarity from Jeremy Corbyn and Labour’s shadow front bench.

Meanwhile in Swindon town centre street stalls will be encouraging shoppers to sign up to the #SaveHondaSwindon campaign.

In a devastating shock move last month, the Japanese car giant announced plans to close the Swindon plant, directly hitting 3,500 jobs at the plant and putting at risk more than 12,000 throughout the region and wider supply chain.

Honda Civics, the models famously made at the Swindon plant, make up one in every 10 cars sold in the UK. The march on Saturday 30 March will gather from 11:00 on the day at the Swindon Town FC coach park, setting off from 11:30 towards the GWR Park at the heart of the town’s historic railway village.

“We will be out and about in Swindon on Saturday encouraging football supporters and the local community to show their support and ‘Civic pride’ by pledging to join us on the march on Saturday 30 March,” said Unite regional officer Alan Tomala said:

“Honda is a major employer in Swindon and supports thousands of jobs in the supply chain. Most people in Swindon have a connection with the plant. It would be a tragedy if Honda followed through with its threat to close the factory.

“So it is great that the shadow home secretary Diane Abbott will be taking time from her busy schedule to meet with Honda logistics workers. It means a lot to workers whose jobs are on the line to know that they have the backing of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party’s shadow front bench.

“We would urge as many people as possible to sign the petition and come on the march to help persuade Honda’s bosses to stay in Swindon and the UK.”