Peugeot... Here we go again...:rolleyes:

orangebird · 19-04-2006, 10:04

News on the Peugeot closure in the Midlands...

My sympathies for the workers. But the bloody Unions get on my nerves. What exactly do union members pay their fees for? AFAIC, they get no more service from them than they do from employment law. The company went bust[edit] closed down, etc for legitimate reasons. What's the next move? Take any redundancy pay coming to you and get a new job, that's what.

**Chris** · 19-04-2006, 10:08

They had a Union blokey on the radio this morning ... he was gently but firmly taken apart by James Naughtie, who pointed out that despite France's apparently 'better' protection for workers, French unemployment is rather higher than British.

King Of Fools · 19-04-2006, 10:15

My thoughts exactly!

The unions just seem to be whinging about it for the sake of it and are not able to do anything constructive about it. I am half expecting them to recommend strike action again - what is that going to achieve? It was most likely that the last round of strikes caused the extra costs that the plant is now being shut because of! I said at the time that it would not be long before the plant was shut.

basa · 19-04-2006, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangebird

News on the Peugeot closure in the Midlands...

My sympathies for the workers. But the bloody Unions get on my nerves. What exactly do union members pay their fees for? AFAIC, they get no more service from them than they do from employment law. The company went bust[edit] closed down, etc for legitimate reasons. What's the next move? Take any redundancy pay coming to you and get a new job, that's what.

Similar where I work. The company has decided on a restructure (read <cull>), where 118 jobs are going, although 76 are just a re-titling exercise.

Union response ?? "All 76 displaced persons should apply for all 76 jobs !! That will slow things up a bit !!

Worst bit is all 76 jobs will be on 'personal contracts' i.e. they can offer whatever they like in terms of pay / conditions .. take it or leave ! Oh...and no Union group protection.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 19-04-2006, 11:12

i had a 306 which was bulit there. The quality of the car was dire (paint so thin you could see through it, door seals that let wind noise in etc etc)

As a company Peugeot need to get there act together before the whole place goes down the same pan as Rover. You dont have to look too far to realise that if you buy a Peugeot your going to have troubles. Same position as Rover some 10 or so years ago?

TigaSefi · 19-04-2006, 11:30

Margaret Thatcher had the right idea about demolishing the Unions!!!! They are a waste of space. Same with the unions of London Underground who now are striking cos shock horror, they been told cos they keep fiddling their timesheets, they will have to use thumbprints to clock in to remove this childish behaviour!!!! Jeezus, these ppl should just do some work for once instead of laying about at home or down the pub watching the footie.....

**Russ** · 19-04-2006, 11:32

Not wishing to sound like I'm defending the unions here, but surely they have to been seen to kick up a stink when this sort of thing happens otherwise they'd be accused of doing nothing, taking backhanders etc?

**Chris** · 19-04-2006, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Not wishing to sound like I'm defending the unions here, but surely they have to been seen to kick up a stink when this sort of thing happens otherwise they'd be accused of doing nothing, taking backhanders etc?

They have to do something, yes. The question is, what? Too often it seems to me they simply revert to type and trot out the same rhetoric, almost as if they don't actually know what to do.

TigaSefi · 19-04-2006, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

They have to do something, yes. The question is, what? Too often it seems to me they simply revert to type and trot out the same rhetoric, almost as if they don't actually know what to do.

As in "clueless bunch of ****ers" comes to mind ?

Gareth · 19-04-2006, 11:44

...and you'd think that they'd have learnt by now that this strategy doesn't work, so maybe a different strategy might be in order

King Of Fools · 19-04-2006, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

They have to do something, yes. The question is, what? Too often it seems to me they simply revert to type and trot out the same rhetoric, almost as if they don't actually know what to do.

The problem is there is nothing they can really do, here. The union has said they want to work with Peugeot to stop the plant closing but the only way they could do that would be by lowering costs. So they would have to negotiate a pay cut for all the workers and I cannot see them doing this!

**Chris** · 19-04-2006, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

...and you'd think that they'd have learnt by now that this strategy doesn't work, so maybe a different strategy might be in order

You would, wouldn't you. But oh, no. They are now saying they are considering strike action:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/c...re/4920740.stm

Which, considering Peugeot is planning to shut the whole place down, will achieve what, exactly?

injuneer · 19-04-2006, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigaSefi

Margaret Thatcher had the right idea about demolishing the Unions!!!! They are a waste of space. Same with the unions of London Underground who now are striking cos shock horror, they been told cos they keep fiddling their timesheets, they will have to use thumbprints to clock in to remove this childish behaviour!!!! Jeezus, these ppl should just do some work for once instead of laying about at home or down the pub watching the footie.....

Which is why Unions don't have any power now, the UK has no serious manufacturing industry and why UK workers are **** on by management at every opportunity.

King Of Fools · 19-04-2006, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

You would, wouldn't you. But oh, no. They are now saying they are considering strike action:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/c...re/4920740.stm

Which, considering Peugeot is planning to shut the whole place down, will achieve what, exactly?

Convince Peugeot that they made the right choice in closing the plant.

It seems that the Unions are completely out of touch with reality but that the workers who are actually affected just want the best deal out of the situation and admit things will not change:

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

One Peugeot employee of 17 years, who attended Wednesday's meeting, said he did not think workers would support a strike.

He said union members laughed when leaders said they were proposing industrial action.

"It was a very boisterous meeting and fairly defeatist too.

"Why cut our own throats? The company has made the decision and it is going to close," he said.

He added he would like to see the unions fight for the best deal for the workers.

orangebird · 19-04-2006, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

You would, wouldn't you. But oh, no. They are now saying they are considering strike action:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/c...re/4920740.stm

Which, considering Peugeot is planning to shut the whole place down, will achieve what, exactly?

Union to staff: 'Strike!'
Staff: 'Um ok then. BUt what exactly will that achieve, considering that Peugeot don't want any work to happen anymore anyway?'
Union: 'Ummm...Oh yeah...Ummm...... '