GM Vauxhall strike Feb 22-23

Report by Greg Dropkin
Published: 22/02/01

GM Vauxhall workers at Ellesmere Port, Luton, and Toddington Rd. are beginning another round of strike action over company plans to close the Luton plant, as T&GWU, AEEU and MSF General Secretaries prepare to fly to Detroit. The unions are seeking a rethink from General Motors and a replacement vehicle for production at Luton.

Ellesmere Port drivers began action Thursday at their dinner hour, and the night shift will walk out at 2am Friday. The entire Day Shift will be out, with pickets on the gates. While the strike is due to finish Friday night, the AEEU will impose an overtime ban covering the entire weekend.

Similar actions will take place at Luton and Toddington Rd., with the AEEU also out on Friday.

The industrial action follows the JNC (Joint negotiating committee) in London last night. General Secretaries Bill Morris (T&GWU), Ken Jackson (AEEU) and Roger Lyons (MSF) are to meet GM UK Managing Director Nick Reilly before flying to Detroit to seek a meeting with the GM President Richard Wagoner in the coming weeks.

The European Works Council is seeking a Draft European Framework agreement covering job security, employee representation, jobs and conditions, a guarantee of continued production at Ellesmere Port and the retention of Luton.

Contacts with the UAW have been made at General Secretary level. Ellesmere Port stewards encourage their counterparts in North America to contact the Luton stewards either through the Save Vauxhall Jobs website, or directly through the convenor:

John Jack (Convenor)
fax: (+44) (0)1582-426873 or (+44) (0)1582-426221
e-mail: john.jack@vauxhall.co.uk

Ellesmere Port Vauxhall T&G stewards can be reached at:

tel: (+44) (0)151 350 2586
fax: (+44) (0)151 350 2925

email: eptag@cybase.co.uk

See also: Car Wars