Amicus on Peugeot Meetings

LONDON, April 5 -- Amicus and T&G met today with local MPs and with the DTI. Both meetings were described as very constructive. The meeting at the DTI was with manufacturing minister Jackie Smith and with representatives from Job Centre Plus and Advantage West Midlands.

The unions have arranged to meet with Jean-Martin Folz, Chief Executive of Peugeot in France later this month.

Amicus officer, Roger Maddison, said:

"We had very constructive meetings today with local MPs and with the manufacturing minister, Jacqui Smith. We accept that Ryton cannot be operated profitably on a three shift system and are confident that a two shift system can be achieved without compulsory redundancies. We now want assurances from the French that they will guarantee new products for Ryton and the long-term future of the plant and hope to have a meeting with the French CEO, Jean-Martin Folz, before the end of the month."