Vauxhall has been accused of "crass insensitivity" for planning a £500,000
trip to the Caribbean for sales managers despite cutting 2,000 car workers’ jobs,
reports the Ananova internet news service.
The car firm, owned by General Motors of the US, called off the trip after
announcing last week that car production was to end at its Luton plant.
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Union leaders, who are stepping up their campaign to save jobs at the Luton
plant, attacked the planned Caribbean trip. But they said they were glad the
‘junket’ had been cancelled.
An official from the Transport and General Workers’ Union told Ananova: "This
was a highly insensitive thing to do which bordered on the outrageous. We are
just glad that Vauxhall did not go ahead with the trip."
Luton Labour MP Margaret Moran said that after workers heard about the job
cuts on the radio, nothing would surprise her. "It smacks of insensitivity
and just shows the style of management we are dealing with."
Vauxhall said in a statement: "Vauxhall had looked at the possibility
of organising an incentive trip to the Caribbean for sales managers from our
independent retailers. However, in the light of last week’s announcement, the
trip will not now take place.
"A wide range of other future marketing programmes remain under review
as Vauxhall looks for ways to put together even more competitive marketing programmes
in these difficult times."
Ananova understands that Vauxhall called off the trip at the end of last week,
following last Tuesday’s announcement that production of the Vectra would end
at Luton within the next 15 months.
Vauxhall had contacted travel agencies to ask for quotes to organise a trip
for 132 sales staff and their partners.
The Luton plant is now on an extended Christmas shutdown.
