IndustriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union stand side by side with the workers and community who would be affected if the Stellantis’ plant in Luton closes.
The manufacturing union federations have made it clear that a closure will not only affect the direct workers but also the local community that depends on the plant. They argue that Stellantis management has not provided a valid justification for a closure and has ignored constructive proposals to keep the plant open.
Judith Kirton-Darling, General Secretary of industriAll Europe, stated: “We are extremely concerned about the future, not only of these workers and their families but also the local community that depends on this site. The announced closure of Luton’s Stellantis plant has sparked outrage and calls for action.
“We reiterate Unite’s huge concerns about the quality and the pre-determined conclusion of the consultation process. Constructive proposals to avoid the closure of what is the UK’s most productive plant have not been listened to, or addressed. It is crucial to find a sustainable solution for the Luton site and its workforce.
“We ask that the UK Government steps in to insist to Stellantis management that meaningful consultation should take place, including consideration of alternative plans for the site. We believe that political engagement is needed to achieve this, in the context of the management’s current attitude. We urge ministers to guarantee a constructive consultation process to secure the future of the Stellantis plant in Luton and its workers. We insist on the importance of good quality social dialogue on all levels and for all sites.
Recent agreements in the United States, where the UAW has secured investments and reopened a long-idled Stellantis plant, give hope that similar cooperation can occur in the UK. The unions expect Stellantis to act responsibly and ensure the viability of the Luton plant. The livelihoods of thousands, and the future of the local community, are at stake.”
Read:
Letter to the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Head of the interim Executive Committee of Stellantis
Letter to the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade