PSA management back on speaking terms with the unions
Today, at the PSA shareholders’ meeting at PSA Headquarters in Paris, the shareholders were faced with a crowd of some 250 demonstrators protesting against the recently announced closure of the PSA plant at Ryton in the UK. The rally of French and Britishl trade unions with membership in PSA had been held under the umbrella of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF).
The aim of the rally was to reiterate the European unions’ stand:
· Their opposition to closure of the Ryton site
· Their solidarity with their British colleagues
· Their demand that management give proper consideration to all alternative industrial solutions, especially those put forward by their British colleagues, with a view to pursuing activities at Ryton
· Their call for full discussions with management on the PSA Group’s future
industrial strategy.
A busload of some 30 trade unionists from the UK had arrived in the French capital early this morning. "We do not accept the decision taken by PSA management and, in particular, we do not accept the way in which the closure decision was taken" said Peter Scherrer, the EMF General Secretary, referring to the complete lack of consultation of the unions in this process.
PSA management received a small delegation of trade union representatives for half an hour. It was agreed that the top management would now carefully consider the alternative business plan put forward by the British trade unions and would send a representative to Ryton in order to discuss possibilities to avoid complete closure of the plant.
Commenting on the result of today’s demonstration, Peter Scherrer said "This is certainly a step in the right direction, and it underlines that co-operation with trade unions is vital for successful and sustainable automobile production in Europe".
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PRESS 13/2006
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Isabelle Barthès, EMF Senior Advisor Tel. + 32 2 227 1012
