Halt plant closure, says Unite

The Unite general union has demanded the Stellantis automotive company halt the planned closure of its electric van plant in Luton following CEO Carlos Tavares’ resignation last month.

The site has manufactured Vauxhall vehicles for 120 years and the plans put around 1,100 jobs at risk.

Ahead of a union and management meeting to discuss counter-proposals, Unite said the plant was highly profitable and ready to begin production of the electric Vivaro van from 2025 without impacting jobs, pay or conditions.

Workers had met every manufacturing cost target asked of them, it added.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said that the exit of Tavares “is an opportunity for Stellantis to turn the page on years of aggressive anti-worker strategies which now threaten to close a profitable plant which is ready to produce thousands of electric vans”.