Shut our factories if you dare

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Many would shun makers which sack UK workers
Majority would still buy from firms which do
Poll comes after unions call for Peugeot boycott

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Any decision to close British factories would hit car makers' UK sales.

That's the view of many whatcar.com readers following our recent poll.

Last week, two unions, Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), launched a campaign urging UK car buyers to boycott Peugeot and sister company Citroen following Peugeot's decision to close its plant in Ryton near Coventry.

We asked whatcar.com readers if they would boycott car manufacturers who sacked UK workers. In a close vote, 39% said they would do so, while 44% said they wouldn't.

A spokesman for the TGWU said: 'It's encouraging. We have seven million members, many of whom are car owners, and probably Peugeot owners. Your poll shows it's fairly close between yes and no.

'Two out of five are saying that what Peugeot has done would have an effect on their decision when buying a new car. It is Peugeot's hope and intention to move away from manufacturing in the UK but keep its sales, so your poll is encouraging – it shows that Peugeot's decision would affect its sales.'

Peugeot reiterated its statement when the unions announced the boycott.

'PSA Peugeot Citroen is surprised and disappointed by the Trade Unions announcement,' said a spokesman.

'The group's focus is firmly on our employees, which is why we have invested £5 million in helping to retrain Ryton employees and to help them to get back to work.'