WORKERS at a firm supplying Vauxhall Motors are planning strike action after being offered 'unacceptably low' redundancy packages. Staff at TDS Automotive Logistics in Ellesmere Port claim they are being treated like 'second-class citizens' after 198 job losses were announced. They registered their protests with two wildcat strikes on Friday and Monday, stopping production at the neighbouring Vauxhall plant. Vauxhalls, which itself is shedding 900 jobs, was unable to build 400 cars as a result. As a knock-on effect of last month's jobs blow at Vauxhall, TDS is seeking 198 redundancies out of a workforce of 553 - the equivalent of one shift. The staff, who make bumpers and accessories for the Astra, were told there would be a 'good' redundancy offer. But after meeting bosses on Friday, the TGWU and Amicus unions found this was the statutory 90 days' notice, which means £290 per year for someone with four years' service and above, according to angry workers. They also say this compares unfavourably with someone made redundant at Vauxhalls with three-and-a-half years' service who would receive about £14,000. And they claim that while Vauxhall staff losing their jobs are getting financial assistance from the Government and the council, they will get nothing. On Friday, 14 TDS workers staged an unofficial walk-out. And on Monday morning about 180 workers from one shift also downed tools for the day. They say the have now asked their unions to start the official process of balloting for industrial action. One of the workers said: 'We have been made to look like second class citizens by this offer. 'Some of the Vauxhall staff are mocking us for it, which was another reason we staged the walk-outs.' A TGWU spokesman said: 'This was unofficial strike action and we can't support it. 'However, what's on the table for the redundancies is the statutory minimum, and we regard it as unacceptable. TDS can and should do better.' A statement from TDS said: 'Both unions rejected our proposal for redundancy terms. Further consultation meetings will be held shortly.'
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