Jaguar Workers to Vote on Strike Action

LONDON, November 24 -- Amicus and T&G members at Jaguar's Browns Lane plant will be balloted for industrial action next week following this Saturday's mass demonstration through Coventry City Centre.

At least 1,150 workers will lose their jobs if Ford carry out their threat to end car production at Jaguar's historic Browns Lane site, and unions fear many more jobs could be at risk.

The campaign to fight the closure has been given backing at the highest level of the T&G and Amicus, and the general secretaries of both unions will be speaking at this Saturday's rally.

Tony Woodley, T&G General Secretary, said: "We call on not just Jaguar workers but also the wider community of Coventry and the West Midlands to stand together and fight this unjust closure. If Ford are allowed to get away with shutting Browns Lane we have real concerns about the future of hundreds of other jobs, and about future jobs for our kids and the community. We urge every person in Coventry to show their support for Jaguar workers by joining us on Saturday. Ford have acted outrageously - let's make them think again."

Derek Simpson, General Secretary of Amicus, said: "The next two weeks are critical in our fight against the closure of Browns Lane. We hope that Saturday's rally and the strike ballot will send a clear message to Ford that Jaguar workers and the people of Coventry will do everything they can to resist the effective closure of Browns Lane. We want them to work with us in considering alternative plans to closure."

Ballot papers for industrial action will be issued to T&G and Amicus members at Browns Lane from Monday 29th November. Members will be asked if they are prepared to take strike action to defend the plant. The ballot closes on Monday 13th December.

Ford Jaguar management have finally agreed to meet with the trade unions in the first week of December, and the unions will be demanding the company consider alternatives to mass redundancies and the end of car production at Browns Lane.

The Jaguar march will assemble at 9.30am at Millennium Place, Coventry, or join the rally at Speakers Corner, Coventry City Buildings at 10.30am.