The head of
Britain's biggest union called on the government to do all it can to protect
jobs at Vauxhall's British car and van plants as new owner Peugeot
(PEUP.PA)
decides where to build future models.
Len McCluskey
told Sky News that the head of the PSA Group, which makes Peugeot, had given
reassurances that all commitments would be honored as part of the deal to buy
General Motors' (GM.N)
European operations, which include Vauxhall in Britain.
"There is
a cautious optimism," he said. "But of course the real issue is not
the current products, it's about the new models and we'll be determined to make
certain that the British plants have a long term future.
"The
current model in Ellesmere Port goes up to 2020/2021 but really it's this time
next year, maybe the middle of next year, (when) we would need to secure
acceptance of a new model there. That's really the challenge for all of us.
"My call
to the government is to make certain that our government is at the table, just
as the French and German governments will be, batting for their
workforce."
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