Council leaders meet with LTI bosses to discuss firm's future
Monday 29 October 2012
Leading Coventry politicians and trade unions have met with the management at Coventry black cab maker LTI.
The meeting followed the company's announcement this week it was calling in administrators after the failure of a rescue package which would have secured its future.
Coventry City Council Leader, Cllr John Mutton, Cabinet Member for City Development, Cllr Lynnette Kelly and Coventry MPs Bob Ainsworth and Geoffrey Robinson were joined by senior shop stewards representing the factory staff, and union leaders Peter Coulson and Roger Maddison from Unite.
They met John Russell, Chief executive of LTI to discuss the firm's future and any support the Council could provide the firm to help it secure its future.
"It was important for us to talk directly to LTI as soon as possible to understand the latest position and to see if there was anything we could usefully do at this stage," said Cllr Kelly.
"I definitely feel more positive now about the future of the factory and the future for the workforce. It's clear that although the company has financial problems the basic company is sound, and their product, the classic London taxi, is still in demand worldwide.
"It's good to see local and national politicians and trade unionists working positively with the company to support jobs in the city."
Cllr Mutton said, "We will do everything we can to support LTI and the workforce at this difficult time, but it seems clear that there is a future for the firm and we hope that taxi production in Coventry will resume as soon as possible.
"I will meet with the administrators as soon as I can to get that message across to protect the future for staff here and to make sure this iconic Coventry brand has a future."
