POLITICIANS are calling on Coventry’s black cab maker to come clean on
moves which could end decades of manufacturing in the city.

It follows Tuesday’s mass walkout by staff at LTI in Holyhead Road who
were furious to discover the factory’s main machinery had been put up for
sale on the internet.

As we revealed yesterday, unions representing 130 staff accused the
company of leaving them in the dark and “playing games”.

Options being discussed as part of an on-going consultation to reverse multi-million pound losses and a slump in orders include shedding half the workforce, and outsourcing manufacturing of the chassis and body,
possibly to China which already builds the famous black cabs for LTI’s
Asian market.

Unions fear complete closure, or Coventry becoming a much smaller plant
assembling imported parts.

LTI managing director Peter Shillcock said West Bromwich-based Fulltex
Press Sales had “jumped the gun” without the firm’s authority by
advertising LTI’s presses.

He said LTI had discussed with Fulltex the potential sale to test the
market if the consultation, already four months old, concludes
manufacturing will be lost.

Coventry North West Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, a former Jaguar
chairman, said: ‘‘It’s time now to be open with the workforce, and cut
out the pretence. This isn’t the way to carry on.”

Manganese Bronze

Original source of info   Coventry news. Be lucky, Steve.

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Comment by

Covcarworker

Having worked at LTI for almost 25 years and witnessed a number of Changes that have taken place within the Company, I have never been more dissapointed than I am now with the attitude of the current Union representation. The Company has been more open and honest than ever before with their plans for survival in this current economical climate. The “Staff Walkout” was not as was reported. The shopfloor workforce held a meeting during their lunch break there was NO DOWNING OF TOOLS. They were encouraged, by their union officials to hold a meeting outside the factory to ensure maximum negative publicity. The union officials have been party to months of talks and negotiations. Perhaps the union officials dont realise that they represent the entire workforce and should listen to all of their members and not use this as an oportunity to Grind their own axe.