Jaguar Unions to Fight Factory Closures

LONDON, September 17 -- Ford Jaguar unions the Transport and General Workers Union and Amicus have condemned today's announcement to move Jaguar production from Browns Lane in Coventry to Castle Bromwich with the loss of over eleven hundred jobs. The joint unions said the net effect of this will be to close Browns Lane as well as the Whitley plant.

The union leaders said they were now concerned that today's decision could lead to further closures in the future and that they intend to draw a line in the sand. In a strong message to the company Tony Woodley, General Secretary of the T&G, and Amicus General Secretary Derek Simpson said they would provide leadership to workers to fight for their plants and jobs.

Both unions said the loss of hundreds of skilled jobs would have a devastating effect on the regional economy. Browns Lane, they said, had recently been identified as one of the top performing car plants in Europe for both quality and production and its closure would not sort out Jaguar's basic problem which was the need to increase sales.

"We are not prepared to see British workers to be treated as cannon fodder to satisfy American shareholders," said Tony Woodley. "We will be consulting our members and giving them leadership to fight for their plants and jobs. It is also likely that we will be consulting with our members across Ford in the UK."

Derek Simpson said: "Ford's decision may kill off Jaguar altogether. Our members will fight like tigers to keep the lion's share of quality car manufacturing in Britain."

For further details please call: At the Castle Bromwich site: Claire Ainsley (T&G), +44(0)7976-832169 Richard O'Brien (Amicus), +44(0)7798-931320 In London: Andrew Dodgshon (T&G), +44(0)20-7611-2550 Catherine Bithell (Amicus), +44(0)20-7420-8909