Unions fighting the closure of Peugeot's UK car plant are to step up their campaign with a nationwide protest outside car dealerships after claiming they were being "gagged", it was announced today.
Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union will organise a day of protest on Saturday which they said will be supported by members of other unions.
The aim was to hit sales of Peugeot cars in September, when a new registration plate is released, in protest at the closure of the factory at Ryton, Coventry, with the loss of 2,300 jobs.
The plant will cut production from today when the number of shifts is cut from two to one ahead of next summer's closure.
The unions said plans to advertise their boycott campaign on the radio had been dashed by a law preventing trade unions from mentioning employers or industrial disputes.
Amicus General Secretary Derek Simpson said: "It is outrageous that trade unions are prevented from explaining to the public the simple fact that Peugeot have sacked more than 2,000 people from a profitable plant in Coventry in search of evergreater profits by exploiting low wages in Eastern Europe.
"We want to give consumers who are interested in making ethical car purchases the information they need to do this.
"They need to know how Peugeot have behaved but we can't tell them. Amicus will raise this injustice with the Government at the highest level."
TGWU General Secretary Tony Woodley said: "The public need to know we are fighting back with our members in Peugeot against the closure of a profitable car plant.
"They need to know the unions have put forward positive plans to save the factory which Peugeot has ignored.
"The public also need to know there is support from industry experts and, now, show business for our campaign.
"The law has gagged us from saying this on the radio, but we'll say it all the same."
Peugeot has attacked the unions' call for a boycott of their cars, which it said would not be effective. ..SUPL:
