Comments in Parliament by Labour minister Margaret Hodge and Labour MP Brian Donohoe, which were critical of the unions’ call for car buyers not to buy Peugeot-Citroën models, have redoubled the determination of Peugeot workers to move the campaign forward, according to their trade union.
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A group from the threatened PSA car plant at Ryton in Coventry will be to demonstrating outside a Peugeot dealership in the city on Friday, the T&G union said, adding that is the latest in a string of demonstrations by workers “whose aim is only to force the company to recognise their lawful right and sit down and negotiate possible alternatives to the complete closure of the Ryton plant”.
T&G Convenor for the plant Jim O’ Boyle said the protests could be halted if Peugeot-Citroën came to the negotiating table.
“What I fail to understand is the company’s determination to deny their employees the right to proper consultation and to remain in complete denial about the fact that they have broken the law. All that we ask as trades unions is they acknowledge this and sit down and discuss these matters seriously with us,” he said.
“If they do that, these demonstrations will be stopped. We have no interest in seeking conflict with PSA Peugeot-Citroën but equally we have no interest in just walking away and letting the company get away scot-free by exporting our members’ jobs to eastern Europe. The ball is in their court. Let them respond.”
