Unite members at GKN Erdington took their fight to save their plant – an absolutely vital cog in the wider UK car manufacturing machine – to Parliament this week. On Tuesday (July 6), the workers met…Read more…
‘Excellent alternative business plan’
Members of Unite employed at GKN Birmingham have today (May 6), along with the joint consultative committee, presented an alternative business plan to the company’s senior management, as part of…Read more…
“Our members know their worth”
Global field service engineers employed by Loughborough-based Brush Electrical Machines, owned by venture capitalists Melrose, are being balloted for strike action in response to ‘fire and rehire’…Read more…
Melrose CEO accused of misleading Parliament
Unite is demanding that Simon Peckham, chief executive of Melrose PLC, urgently corrects his evidence to parliament following a select committee hearing today (February 23). During the evidence…Read more…
Unite vows to overturn GKN’s Birmingham factory closure plans
Unite has announced that it is working on a rescue plan to secure the future of the GKN plant in Chester Road, Birmingham that produces drivelines for major automotive companies in the UK. The 500…Read more…
‘We aren’t walking away from this’
A Unite delegation descended on Melrose’s annual general meeting (AGM) today (May 9) in London, where they lobbied shareholders and grilled board members over the company’s proposed plans to close…Read more…
GKN plant closure revealed
Unite has today (April 5) demanded an urgent meeting with Melrose bosses after news emerged of plans to close GKN’s King’s Norton plant by March 2021 with the loss of over 200 jobs. Unite…Read more…
‘We must act now’
GKN’s credit rating was this week (May 29) slashed following a hostile takeover by turn-around specialist firm Melrose in March. Credit rating firm Moody’s cut GKN’s rating from Baa3 to Ba1 –…Read more…
GKN takeover decision slammed
Business secretary Greg Clark waved through the Melrose takeover of GKN in a statement today (April 24) in Parliament – a move which Unite has slammed. Clark said that “on the basis of…Read more…
Airbus’ fears over Melrose plans
Unite members are not the only ones anxious about Melrose’s takeover of engineering firm GKN. Reiterating its worries yesterday (April 11), GKN’s biggest customer Airbus told investors that the firm…Read more…
‘Unacceptable face of capitalism’
Melrose executives – who are on the verge of cashing in after shareholders approved a hostile takeover of GKN last month – earned £170m last year, amounting to more than £40m each. Their…Read more…
Stop UK plc fire sale now call
Concerns over Melrose’s recent hostile takeover of GKN were highlighted this week (April 4) when financial analysts Moody’s said it would review GKN’s credit rating for a possible downgrade. …Read more…
‘Not going down without a fight’
Even in the face of last week’s defeat as Melrose’s takeover of GKN was approved by shareholders, Unite GKN members aren’t giving up. Last Thursday (March 29) investors approved the takeover…Read more…
‘Feet to the fire’
Engineering giant GKN’s shareholders have approved a hostile takeover bid from ‘turnaround specialist’ Melrose this afternoon (March 29). Investors approved the takeover by a slim margin –…Read more…
‘Inadequate assurances’ for GKN slammed
Business secretary Greg Clark today (March 27) stepped in over the GKN takeover bid from Melrose, just 48 hours before investors are to vote on the iconic engineering firm’s future. Investors…Read more…
Reject the bid plea
As GKN investors face a vote on Thursday (March 29) on whether to accept a predatory takeover bid from ‘turnaround specialist’ Melrose, Unite has again urged shareholders to reject the bid and…Read more…
Where shareholders’ interests reign supreme
This week will be a defining one for British business. On Thursday we will find out if the centuries old engineering giant GKN will be the latest victim of our inadequate shareholder laws. …Read more…
‘Casino style’ takeovers threat
The UK is lagging behind other advanced economies with measures to protect against ‘casino style’ hostile takeovers, according to a report for Unite, which calls for a strengthening of UK takeover…Read more…
‘Rising anger’
Unite said it had ‘no confidence’ in Melrose’s vision or strategy for GKN after the firm refused to give guarantees on jobs, skills and investment today (March 19). In a full and frank…Read more…
Reject bid call
Unite today (March 12) urged shareholders to reject Melrose’s latest bid for GKN and repeated calls for the business secretary Greg Clark to intervene in the debt-fuelled takeover bid on grounds of…Read more…