Unite union chief Tony Woodley vows to keep the pressure on business secretary Lord Mandelson

Jun 4 2009 by Gary Porter, Chester Chronicle

Top union boss confident of short-term security for Port Vauxhall workers

UNION chief Tony Woodley has told Vauxhall workers that the Ellesmere Port car plant will not be axed in the next five years.

The Unite general secretary has vowed to continue putting pressure on business secretary Lord Mandelson to secure its long-term future, after receiving a phone call from the Prime Minister on Monday pledging to do all he can to support the carmaker.

Mr Woodley, who lives in Little Sutton, told the Chronicle: “By good fortune and good timing there is a new model being built in our plant. There is no immediate threat to Ellesmere Port for five years.

“But five years is five minutes in the car industry. We want to make sure we’ve got jobs at Ellesmere Port in 15 years time.

The Unite union has been on the receiving end of criticism from Lord Mandelson for creating ‘needless fears’ among the Vauxhall workforce.

However, Mr Woodley said he did not want to get into a war of words, but would continue piling on the pressure in a bid to secure the long-term future of both the Ellesmere Port and Luton plants.

He said: “I haven’t seen any of his comments. I’m not going to get into disagreements. My job is to look after my plant and my members’ interests.

“I can assure them this union’s effort isn’t for headlines, it’s to genuinely and forcefully fight for the long-term future of the plants. We’ll be successful with that.

“My argument with him is that it’s no good going to listen to Magna’s plans if you haven’t got demands.

“I’m angry that the Government is sitting on the outside while the Germans put the money up front. We’ve got an obligation to British workers.”

Over the weekend General Motors Europe, which includes Vauxhall and German sister brand Opel, agreed a memorandum of understanding with car parts giant Magna to take over the carmaker.

Lord Mandelson said he’d gained assurances from Magna that Vauxhall production would continue if they secured a deal.

But as yet they haven’t given details on how a takeover will affect British plants.

He said: “We will have to see as Magna itself becomes more specific what the implications are. But one thing I can say is this – we have in Ellesmere Port and Luton very good plants, a first-rate workforce, high productivity.”

It is believed that Magna plan to axe up to 10,000 European jobs. There are about 50,000 workers employed across Europe.