Unions have condemned the closure of the UK’s Peugeot car plant in the West Midlands as workers facing redundancy meet to discuss their next move.
This follows the announcement that the plant at Ryton near Coventry is to close with the loss of 2,300 jobs.
Unions are expected to tell workers they will not accept the decision and have criticised Peugeot management and the government for letting it happen.
Transport and General Workers’ Union general secretary Tony Woodley called the closure a “disgrace” and “corporate greed at workers’ expense”.
The unions claim it was easier for Peugeot to close the British plant, rather than a French one.
Derek Simpson, general secretary of Amicus, said: “It is inconceivable that workers in France would be laid off on this scale. Weak UK labour laws are allowing British workers to be sacrificed at the expense of a flexible labour market.”
Trade and industry secretary Alan Johnson said he was “extremely disappointed” at the decision and the DTI had “done everything possible to encourage the company to continue manufacturing in Ryton”.
He said Jobcentre Plus and other local agencies would get involved in supporting workers affected and helping them find new jobs.
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