Peugeot workers are due to decide today (Friday, June 2) whether to take industrial action over the planned shutdown of the Ryton, Coventry plant in 2007.

Less than two years ago, Peugeot’s parent company PSA Peugeot Citroën had virtually guaranteed Ryton a lifeline until at least 2010.

But in April this year, the carmaker announced that the 206 supermini assembly facility will close in the first half of next year, with the loss of more than 2,300 skilled workers.

“Peugeot’s customers need to know they are buying tarnished goods,” says Des Quinn, T&G regional industrial organizer. “They are tarnished by the betrayal of Coventry workers by a company which is talking economics but practising greed.”

Jean-Martin Folz, PSA chief executive, says a recent study showed Ryton to have prohibitively high production and logistical costs and could not justify the investment needed for the production of future vehicles.

But both the T&G and Amicus claim otherwise.

A source within the Peugeot retail network who wished to remain anonymous, tells AM: “It is my understanding the packages being offered are extremely generous and that a large proportion of the workforce thinks it should accept and not cause any more trouble.”