In February 2022, Stellantis announced that the Luton plant was to become the second British Stellantis factory to produce electric vehicles. However, in November last year, the Group announced its plan to close the site completely, despite the high productivity of the plant.

Upon the announcement in November 2024, Unite the union issued a response stressing that: “The proposal that has been tabled has been a complete slap in face for our members in Luton, where Vauxhall vehicles have been manufactured for 120 years.” 

Both the new Stellantis European works council and industriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union have called for alternatives to be explored. Management responses paint a harmonious picture, suggesting that alternatives have been carefully considered and dialogue with workers has been engaged and constructive. However, the reality is a stark contrast. 

Every counter proposal that was made to avert the closure of the plant has been squarely rejected by Stellantis management. High level approaches have been made by Unite the Union to senior Stellantis management to save the plant only to be dismissed without any face-to-face dialogue being granted. In addition, the UK Government has sought to persuade Stellantis to allow for more time to assess what could be done to save the plant, including offering financial support. Both proposals were rejected by management. 

For the over a thousand workers facing redundancy, this has left a very bitter taste after years of loyalty and a strong economic performance of the site.

“It is clear that open and fair dialogue to save the plant has been stymied rendering the representatives to conclude that the decision to close which is believed to have originated from the ‘Strategic Planning Group’ has been in the pipeline for a long time and that management have merely been deceiving a highly productive workforce along the way into believing they had a future,” says Gary Reay, plant convener at the Luton plant.

Workers around the world in Stellantis sites have been watching the situation closely and showing solidarity with Luton’s workforce. The situation risks overall worker trust in the management at a crucial time for the company in the aftermath of the departure of CEO Carlos Tavares last year. 

Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe’s general secretary says:

“Stellantis’ behaviour towards its loyal workforce in Luton is reprehensible - they are sacrificing a productive site and manufacturing excellence on the alter of shareholder value and profit maximisation. Alternatives put forward by the workforce and government have been dismissed without full consideration demonstrating the cavalier attitude of management. It’s time for Stellantis management to take their responsibility towards their workforce and the local community in Luton, and elsewhere, seriously. Their future as a company depends on the ingenuity and commitment of their workers and we are all watching this appalling behaviour."

“The 1,100 workers in Luton at risk of losing their jobs are our colleagues in a community with families and friends. This devastating decision should not be made lightly and company management needs to engage with the union, who time and again has asked for dialogue, to find an acceptable solution for the future.” Says IndustriALL Global Union general secretary Atle Høie: