Members of Unite employed at GKN Birmingham have, along with the
joint consultative committee, presented an alternative business
plan to the company’s senior management, as part of their campaign
to prevent the plant's closure. The 500 plus workforce at the
Chester Road plant, which produces automotive parts, were left
shocked and fearing for their futures when GKN Automotive, owned by
Melrose, announced in January that the plant was earmarked for
closure in 2022, with work being...Request free trial
Members of Unite employed at GKN Birmingham have, along with the
joint consultative committee, presented an alternative business
plan to the company’s senior management, as part of their campaign
to prevent the plant's closure.
The 500 plus workforce at the Chester Road plant, which produces
automotive parts, were left shocked and fearing for their futures
when GKN Automotive, owned by Melrose, announced in January that
the plant was earmarked for closure in 2022, with work being
transferred to plants in Europe.
In response to the announcement, Unite established a team of union
officers, senior management at the plant, shop stewards and local
politicians, including local MP , to develop an alternative business plan to keep the
plant open. That detailed work has now been completed.
The alternative business plan highlights that the Chester Road site
has an excellent record of delivering on improvement and
transformation plans on time and on budget.
Coupled to this is that the workforce is highly adaptable in a fast
changing environment and can operate in difficult circumstances.
This has been demonstrated by how the workforce has reacted to the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The alternative business plan details a high value of operational
savings and establishes a set period when potential investment will
be paid back.
In a further boost to the alternative business plan, the government
has made it clear that it will provide significant assistance to
ensure that the Birmingham plant is a success.
Frank Duffy, the Unite convener at the plant, said: “Senior figures
representing workers and management have developed an excellent
comprehensive alternative business plan which will ensure the
future of the Birmingham plant.
“What we now need is for the management at GKN Automotive to show
the commitment and desire to work with Unite and the government to
secure the future of the plant.
“The government’s commitment to assist with securing the future of
this plant is crucial, the door is firmly open to GKN
Automotive.
“The workforce at Birmingham has committed to deliver for GKN
Automotive, it is now time for GKN Automotive to deliver for its
Birmingham workforce.”
Since 2018, GKN has been owned by venture capitalists Melrose.
Melrose’s purchase of GKN was highly controversial. In response to
fears that GKN was going to be asset stripped, Melrose promised
shareholders and investors that it would establish a ‘UK
manufacturing powerhouse’.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Government
commits to further talks on future of GKN’s Birmingham
factory
Unite vows
to overturn GKN’s Birmingham factory closure plans and accuses
Melrose of lying about its intentions
During the
coronavirus crisis Unite is working to keep workers and the public
safe, to defend jobs and to protect incomes.
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