Planned strike action suspended at GKN factory in Birmingham

Strike action was scheduled to go ahead this coming Monday.
GKN Driveline, Birmingham (google maps image)GKN Driveline, Birmingham (google maps image)
GKN Driveline, Birmingham (google maps image)

Planned strike action to save more than 500 skilled jobs at the GKN engineering plant in Birmingham has been suspended after the company agreed to further talks with union officials.

Workers at the GKN factory in Erdington, which assembles driveline systems for petrol and diesel cars, had voted for ‘all out continuous strike action’ to begin on Monday, September 27, to try and prevent the factory’s closure.

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Following a meeting this week between representatives of Unite and Melrose GKN, it was agreed that there would be an immediate delay on work and machinery being taken out of the factory.

Unite said Melrose GKN had agreed to attend a meeting of the key stakeholders involved in seeking a way forward to keep the factory open.

Responding to the announcement, Jack Dromey, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Erdington, said: “The reopening of negotiations between the workers, their union, Unite, and GKN/Melrose presents a real opportunity to secure a settlement to save the GKN plant from closure.

“The GKN workers and Unite have always been clear that they stood ready to enter any discussions to save the GKN Chester Road plant from closure. In the spirit of that commitment they have suspended strike action to allow these talks to now take place. In return, the company have made clear their commitment to pause any movement of works and machinery out of the plant.”

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