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• Unite members to challenge First Group over pay freeze and strike tricks at AGM
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• Vauxhall convoy to show parliament what is great about UK car industry
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Vauxhall convoy to show parliament what is great about UK car industry

14th July 2009

Save Vauxhall campaign comes to parliament

Photo-opportunity: Vauxhall cars and vans from 1960's to present day come to London
Date: Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
Time: 9.30am
Place: Parliament Square, London

A convoy of Vauxhall cars and vans from the present day back to the 80s,70s and 60s will drive by parliament tomorrow (Wednesday) to showcase the best in British car manufacturing.

The vehicles, all produced at Vauxhall's plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton, are being driven to the capital by workers from both factories, as talks continue over the future of the car manufacturer in the UK.  The convoy will include the Astra, which is currently produced in Ellesmere Port, and the Vivaro which has been produced at Luton for the past nine years.

The drive-by is being organised by Unite the union which is pressing for any sale of GM Europe - and its UK subsidiary Vauxhall - to safeguard the future for both plants.  Between them, they employ 5,000 skilled workers with some 20,000 more in the wider components and supply chain also depending on the plants for a living. 

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.

Len McCluskey, Unite assistant general secretary, said that it was vital that MPs understood that the future of both plants still hung very much 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.  An industry, entire workplaces and whole communities need it to thrive.  It is vital that any deal done over the future of GM in Europe is the right deal for a secure and lasting industry in this country, which is why we are pressing for our government to carry on doing what it says it is doing and keep working towards a deal which protects our plants and jobs."

The nine-car convoy will drive by parliament from around 9.30am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.  The vehicles are set to come down Whitehall and then circle Parliament Square.  The media are invited to join Unite workers from the plants under the statue of Churchill from 9.30am.

The vehicles include a 2009 black Vauxhall Vivaro, a silver Vauxhall Vivaro mini bus, a red 5-door Astra, the Heritage centre van, 1966 Viva , 1970 Viscount, 1980 Cavalier,1982 Chevette, 2002 Vectra.  All will be emblazoned with the Save Vauxhall logo.

ENDS

For further information, please call Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861