[27
JUL 00] PEUGEOT NEWS
Workers Set Up The Picket Line At Ryton
BY
ANTONY HOPKER
Peugeot’s
Ryton plant was at a standstill today as workers held a one-day
strike over their new contracts.
Around
100 workers formed a picket line outside the plant as union
leaders and managers held new talks.
Staff
narrowly voted to hold the action against the new contracts,
despite the recommendations of the unions that the deal be
accepted.
Today
is the last day at work for the workers on the Monday to
Thursday shift before the three-week shutdown.
If
there is no breakthrough there will be an all-out strike from 21
August. The dispute is over changes that could lead to workers
being forced to work extra Friday shifts.
Staff
on the weekend shift will strike on Sunday.
A
Peugeot spokeswoman said the fact that managers and union
negotiators were still talking was encouraging.
She
said efforts were being made to convince those who had voted
against the deal that they should support it.
Union
leaders have expressed their fears that industrial action could
encourage Peugeot to take jobs away from Britain. The issue has
arisen because of the popularity of the Peugeot 206.
But
Coventry Socialist councillor Dave Nellist, who this morning
joined workers on the picket line, said the workers were fed up
with having their hours constantly changed.
Cllr
Nellist, who addressed a meeting of workers outside the
Torrington Avenue parts depot in tile Hill, said:
"So
far everyone seems to have been against the Peugeot workers.
“The
management, sections of the media, the New Labour council and
even some union officials. But the Socialist Party promises
them our full support in their fight to protect their
families' lives.
"We
are confident that the working people of Coventry will also
give them their support, as will workers around the country.
We’ll do what we can to mobilise that support."
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