Ellesmere Port workers take part in Save Vauxhall ‘drive-by’ protest
UNION leaders were taking their “Save Vauxhall” campaign to Parliament today.
A convoy of Vauxhall vehicles from the 1960s to present day, including the Ellesmere Port-built Astra, was due to take part in a “drive-by” at Westminster, ahead of a plea to MPs by Unite the Union to safeguard the 5,000 jobs at Ellesmere Port and its sister site in Luton, in the impending sell-off by US-based General Motors of its European brands Opel and Vauxhall.
Up to 20,000 supply chain jobs could also be at stake.
The drive-by is a bid to showcase the best of British car manufacturing, and the Astra will be driven by Ellesmere Port staff.
Unite is concerned that any buyer not only ensures that volume car-building continues at Ellesmere Port, but that the Luton plant, the UK's remaining premier commercial vehicle builder, is protected, too.
Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said it is vital MPs understand that the future of both plants still hangs in the balance: "These workers are coming to Parliament today because they want MPs to show support for their fight, not just for their future, but for the entire UK car industry.
"Vauxhall is at the heart of our car manufacturing in this country.
