Union leaders hold crisis talks with Darling
19th February 2009
The joint general secretaries of Unite, Britain's biggest union,
met with Alistair Darling at Number 11 today for crisis talks on
manufacturing.
The meeting was called by the union leaders because of fears
that a plant closure in the car industry is imminent and its impact
could hit 100,000 jobs in the UK.
Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley urged the chancellor of the
exchequer to act quickly and provide significant financial support
for the ailing car industry. The leaders of Unite warned that
unless there is urgent assistance UK manufacturing will not recover
after the recession.
The union leaders warned that the closure of one car plant would
have a devastating effect on directly employed workers, the wider
manufacturing/components industry and jobs in the immediate
locality.
During this week alone, BMW callously sacked 850 agency workers
with one hour's notice and a further 564 job cuts were announced at
the car components company GKN Driveline.
Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson said: “The problems
in the car industry have reached crisis point. Unless there is
urgent assistance UK manufacturing will not recover after the
recession. We made it absolutely clear that the prospect of a plant
closure will have a devastating effect on UK manufacturing.
Immediate and effective intervention is required from the
government.
“We are calling for a £13 billion fund to be made available to
provide interim relief for producers and to cover employment costs
during the crisis period. We need a strategic support package from
government, similar to the support provided by the German, French
and Swedish governments to their manufacturing industries.
“We cannot afford to let a short term problem deprive Britain of
the skills we will depend on to compete in the world economy in the
long term.”
ENDS
For more information: Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315
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